LIBRARY 

/ 

OF  THK 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

GIFT  OF" 
THE    FAMILY   OF    REV.   DR.   GEORGE    MOOAR 

Class 


CENTURIAL   HISTORY 


MENDON  ASSOCIATION 


OF    CONGREGATIONAL    MINISTERS,   WITH 


THE  CENTENNIAL  ADDRESS, 


DELIVERED    AT    FRANKLIN,    MASS.,    NOV.  19,  1851, 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES    OF  THE  MEMBERS 
AND  LICENTIATES. 


BY  REV.  MORTIMER  BLAKE. 
M 


BOSTON: 

PUBLISHED    FOR   THE    ASSOCIATION, 
BY    SEWALL    HARDING, 

113   WASHINGTON   STREET. 

1853. 


I  I  v  <•» 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1853,  hy 

MORTIMER   BLAKE, 
in  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  District  of  Massachusetts. 


A  X  I)  O  V  K  R  :     JOHN     D.     F  L  A  G  G  , 

STEREOTYPER    AND     PRINTER. 


INTRODUCTION, 


THE  history  of  this  volume  is  as  follows.  At  a  meeting 
of  the  Mendon  Association  at  Foxboro,  April  1C,  1850,  on 
motibn  of  Br.  M.  Blake,  it  was  voted,  that  there  be  a  Com 
mittee  chosen  to  prepare  a  History  of  Mendon  Association. 
Brs.  M.  Blake  and  T.  Thacher  were  appointed.  Mr. 
Thacher  soon  after  decided  to  remove  to  California,  and 
the  subject  remained  untouched  until  the  next  year  ;  when, 
upon  examination  of  the  few  ancient  documents  in  possession 
of  the  scribe,  it  was  found  that  the  Association  had  nearly 
reached  the  close  of  itsjirst  century.  The  fact  was  inform 
ally  communicated  to  some  of  the  members,  at  the  meeting 
of  the  State  Association  at  Wrentham,  in  June,  1851,  and 
at  the  next  regular  meeting,  at  Auburndale,  August  12th,  it 
was  decided  to  observe  the  centennial  day,  November  19th, 
with  appropriate  public  services.  Franklin  was  selected  as 
a  central  and  very  appropriate  place  for  the  meeting,  and 
Rev.  M.  Blake  was  appointed  to  deliver  an  address.  The 
scribe  was  instructed  to  issue  special  invitations  to  attend, 
to  all  the  living  former  members  and  licentiates. 

An  account  of  the  meeting  is  abridged  from  the  Congre- 
gationalist  of  the  following  week. 


80 


iy  INTRODUCTION. 

"  The  first  public  service  was  held  on  Tuesday  evening, 
18th  inst.  This  was  of  the  nature  of  a  conference,  in  which 
a  number  of  the  older  licentiates  and  former  members  of  the 
body,  participated.  The  time  was  mostly  given  up  to  his 
torical  reminiscences ;  and  to  feeling  allusions  to  the  great 
and  good  who  were  once  with  us,  but  now  are  passed 
away.  Rev.  Dr.  Ide  remarked  :  i  I  joined  the  Association 
thirty-seven  years  ago.  It  was  a  large  and  nourishing  body, 
but  now  all  of  them  but  one  are  dead.  I  have  seen  eighteen 
beloved  brethren  laid  in  the  grave.  At  the  time  of  joining, 
I  was  not  only  the  youngest,  but  the  feeblest  and  weakest 
of  them  all,  and  did  not  expect  to  live  long ;  but  through 
help  obtained  of  God,  I  continue  unto  the  present  day 
I  have  belonged  to  the  Association  fifteen  years  longer  than 
any  other  member.'  He  proceeded  to  speak  of  his  fellow- 
laborers  in  the  ministry ;  said  that  God  had  blessed  their 
labors.  He  had  witnessed  signal  and  glorious  revivals  of 
religion  in  every  church  in  the  Association. 

"  Rev.  J.  O.  Barney  alluded  to  Dr.  Emmons  as  the  instru 
ment  of  his  conversion,  by  one  sermon,  which  he  heard  when 
he  was  a  very  wicked  boy. 

"  Rev.  M.  Moore  spoke  of  the  fathers  that  approbated  him 
in  1812,  —  Emmons,  Fisk,  Howe,  Wilder,  Holman,  Dickin 
son,  Thompson,  all  now  dead  but  the  last-named,  who  was 
present. 

"  Rev.  D.  Brigham  said  he  should  rather  go  down  to  the 
regions  of  the  lost  from  almost  any  other  place  than  Franklin, 
divine  truth  had  been  there  so  plainly  exhibited. 

"  Rev.  Messrs.  Perkins,  Cobb,  and  Harding,  made  brief 
and  pertinent  allusions  to  the  brethren  who  used  to  converse 
with  them  at  the  meetings  of  this  body.  Every  heart  seemed 
to  be  full ;  and  the  fact  was  more  than  once  spoken  of,  that 
it  must  be  a  terrible  guilt  which  continues  in  impenitence, 
after  having  enjoyed  the  ministry  of  such  able  and  godly 
men. 


INTRODUCTION.  V 

"  On  Wednesday,  at  10  o'clock,  A.  M.,  some  forty  or  more 
of  the  past  members  of  the  Association  convened  in  the 
meeting-house,  to  attend  the  services  of  the  centennial 
celebration.  Prayer  was  offered  by  Rev.  Alvan  Cobb  of 
West  Taunton.  After  the  address,  the  company  were 
invited  to  partake  of  a  bountiful  collation  provided  in  the 
vestry ;  after  which  the  brethren  separated,  feeling  that  it 
had  been  an  occasion  of  deep  and  peculiar  interest,  and  that 
it  was  good  to  call  to  mind  those  champions  of  the  faith,  who 
lived  to  shape  the  morals  and  theology  of  happy  New  Eng 
land,  and  to  behold  with  exultation  and  gratitude  the  fruits 
of  their  toil." 

The  author  of  the  address,  given  upon  the  above  occasion, 
was  by  vote  requested  to  prepare  the  same  for  publication, 
with  a  list  of  the  members  and  licentiates  from  the  begin 
ning,  and  such  notes  and  historical  appendix  as  he  deemed 
appropriate.  Hence  the  following  volume,  and  the  long 
delay  of  its  publication. 

A  desire  to  make  the  biographical  sketches  as  complete  as 
possible,  and  the  delays  of  an  extensive  correspondence  with 
reference  to  this  end,  have  deferred  the  publication  of  the 
address  to  this  date.  And  after  all  our  researches,  some 
vacancies  must  be  left,  which  it  is  hoped  may  yet  be  filled, 
should  another  edition  ever  be  called  for. 

The  author  feels  it  due  to  himself  to  add,  that  the  discourse 
was  prepared  during  the  anxieties  of  a  distressing  and  doubt 
ful  sickness  of  one  of  his  family,  which  compelled  him  to 
select  a  general  theme,  and  less  appropriate  than  undisturbed 
leisure  would  have  permitted. 

It  is  also  due  to  the  members  of  the  Association  to  say, 
that  the  compiler  is  alone  responsible  for  the  manner  in 
which  their  vote  to  publish  its  History  has  been  executed,  — 
as  but  the  plan  of  the  work,  and  not  its  details,  has  been 
submitted  for  their  approval. 

1* 


vi  INTRODUCTION. 

The  volume,  as  it  is,  is  offered  to  the  public,  as  the  first 
contribution  from  the  unexplored  annals  of  ministerial 
associations,  towards  the  yet  unwritten  ecclesiastical  history 
of  New  England. 

MORTIMER  BLAKE. 

Mansfield,  Mass.,  Nov.  19,  1852. 


OF  THE 

UNIViRbiTY 

OF 


CENTENNIAL  ADDRESS. 


I,    SAMUEL,  2,  30,  1.  c. 

4<  THEM    THAT    HONOR    ME    I    WILL    HONOR,    AND    THEY    THAT 
DESPISE  ME  SHALL  BE  LIGHTLY  ESTEEMED." 

THESE  words  express  the  general  reason  why  God 
would  disinherit  the  house  of  Eli  from  the  high  priest's 
office,  which  had  been  entailed  upon  it  forever,  "  His 
sons  had  made  themselves  vile,  and  he  restrained  them 
not."  They  had  brought  the  services  of  the  sanctuary 
into  contempt  with  the  people  by  their  profligacy,  and 
he  had  only  opposed  weak  remonstrances  instead  of  the 
decisive  measures  which  became  his  office.  Wherefore, 
God,  jealous  of  his  worship,  determined  to  transfer  the 
high-priesthood  to  another  branch  of  the  Aaronic  family. 

God  announced  this  rejection,  not  only  by  a  vision  to 
young  Samuel,  but  by  the  mouth  of  "  a  man  of  God  " 
sent  to  Eli  with  the  particular  message,  —  "The  Lord 
God  of  Israel  saith,  I  said  indeed  that  thy  house,  and 
the  house  of  thy  father,  should  walk  before  me  forever ; 
but  now  the  Lord  saith,  Be  it  far  from  me  ;  for  them  that 
honor  me  I  will  honor,  and  they  that  despise  me  shall  be 
lightly  esteemed." 


S  HISTORY   OF 

This  doom,  I  may  observe,  was  afterwards  accom 
plished  when  Solomon  removed  Abiathar,  —  the  last 
high-priest  of  the  line  of  Ithamar,  of  which  line  Eli  was 
the  first,  —  and  placed  Zadoc,  of  the  house  of  Eleazer, 
in  the  high-priest's  office. 

The  general  principle  on  which  this  ejection  proceeded 
admits  of  a  great  variety  of  special  applications.  But 
the  present  occasion,  as  well  as  the  occasion  on  which 
•God  uttered  the  words  of  the  text,  points  out  the  parti 
cular  application  to  be  selected :  viz.  to  ministerial  labor 
and  ministerial  success. 

God  honors  the  ministry  which  honors  him,  and  that 
ivhich  despises  him,  he  lightly  esteems. 

This  proposition  may  require  some  explanatory  obser 
vations  ;  first,  in  respect  to  the  manner  in  which  ministers 
as  such,  may  honor  or  despise  God  ;  and,  secondly,  the 
manner  in  which  God  expresses  his  honor  or  disesteem 
-of  their  ministry  :  — 

I.  I  observe,  then,  that  God  possesses  certain  rights 
•which  belong  to  him,  as  the  Sovereign  Ruler  of  the  uni 
verse,  and  he  justly  claims  that  these  rights  shall  be 
•cordially  yielded  unto  him  by  his  intelligent  creatures. 
^Those  who  cheerfully  render  unto  God  the  glory  due 
unto  his  name,  honor  him.  They  who  deny  or  indiffer 
ently  treat  his  claims,  despise  him.  Every  one  who 
cordially  submits  to  the  government  of  God,  and  loves  his 
sovereign  authority  over  himself,  honors  him.  He  who 
resists  that  sovereignty,  despises  his  Maker. 

In  particular,  that  ministry  of  the  Gospel  honors  God, 
-which  makes  the  Divine  glory  the  prime  incentive  to 
labor  for  the  salvation  of  men,  —  which  exhibits  the 
foundations  of  the  Gospel  as  laid  deep  in  the  sovereign 


MENDON    ASSOCIATION.  9 

grace  of  God,  or  his  "just  liberty"  to  treat  his  guilty 
creatures  according  to  his  holy  pleasure,  —  and  which 
draws  the  motives  to  repentance  from  the  inherent  evil 
of  sinning  against  the  rightful  claims  of  the  Almighty. 

But  that  ministry  despises  God  which  represents  the 
plan  of  Redemption  to  be  a  device  chiefly  of  God's  pity 
to  men ;  as  if  it  were  their  deliverance  from  misery 
which  first  and  most  moved  him  to  the  thoughts  of  their 
salvation  ;  and  which  makes  the  sinner's  safety  his  own. 
prime  motive  of  endeavor. 

The  former  exalts  God  as  a  sovereign,  and  abases 
transgressors.  The  latter  exalts  man,  and  makes  the 
wisdom  and  mercy  of  God  mere  servants  to  secure  man's 
endless  happiness.  One  mode  of  preaching  the  Gospel 
makes  the  glory  of  God  the  end  of  all  his  doings,  and  the 
redemption  of  sinners  a  means  to  illustrate  that  glory. 
The  other  mode  of  preaching  makes  human  happiness  the 
chief  end  of  all  God's  works  and  of  man's  efforts. 

All  the  various  systems  of  religious  doctrine  and 
styles  of  religious  teaching  may  be  put  into  one  or  the 
other  of  these  classes,  as  their  tendency  and  effect  are  to 
exalt  God  or  abase  him.  And  according  to  this  their 
character,  God  honors  or  lightly  esteems  them. 

II.  The  indications  of  God's  approval  or  disapproval 
of  our  ministry  are  not  difficult  of  detection,  if  a  sufficiently 
long  period  be  subjected  to  examination. 

The  temporary  popularity  of  any  doctrines,  measures, 
or  men,  is  obviously  no  criterion,  for  they  may  be  con 
genial  to  the  natural  heart. 

The  honor  which  God  bestows  descends  first  into  the 
heart,  —  making  that  pure  and  joyful ;  and  then  displays 
itsetf  in  the  life ;  as  the  transfiguration-glory  of  Christ 


10  HISTORY    OF 

beamed  outwards  through  his  countenance,  and  caused 
his  raiment  to  be  white  and  glistering. 

God  honors  the  ministry  of  those  who  honor  him,-  by 
giving  a  success  evinced  in  the  purity,  stability,  and 
harmony  of  the  church,  and  its  enlargement  by  genuine 
revivals  of  religion.  The  ministry  which  he  lightly 
esteems  is  unacknowledged  by  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  leads 
men  into  dangerous  errors,  or  lulls  them  in  security, 
apathy,  and  the  sleep  of  eternal  death. 

The  fruits  of  a  ministry  honored  of  God,  are  the 
edification  of  the  church  and  the  conversion  of  sinners. 
The  fruits  of  a  ministry  he  lightly  esteems,  are  the 
church's  virtual  extinction  and  sinners'  ruin. 

After  this  lengthy  definition  of  the  terms  of  the  text, 
I  come  to  its  demonstration.  And  the  occasion  reminds 
me,  that  I  may  pass  by  the  many  logical  reasons  which 
confirm  its  truthfulness,  and  confine  myself  to  what  may 
be  termed  its  historic  illustration. 

And  I  will  assert,  that  the  history  of  religion,  from  the 
earliest  times,  shows  that  God  has  honored  that  ministry 
which  has  honored  him,  and  that  which  has  despised  him 
he  has  lightly  esteemed.  Especially  does  the  progress 
of  the  Redeemer's  kingdom  in  this  New  England  most 
significantly  illustrate  this  assertion.  I  say  especially, 
because  here  the  ministry  has  brought  forth  its  fruits 
unhelped  and  unhindered  by  many  causes  which  have 
obscured  its  agency  elsewhere.  So  that  the  actual 
results  of  every  species  of  ministration  can  be  here  ap 
proximately  ascertained.  Such  a  cursory  glance  as  we 
can  now  give  to  this  field  with  reference  to  this  single 
point,  will  make  the  truth  of  these  observations  sufficiently 
obvious. 


MENDON    ASSOCIATION.  11 

The  beginning  of  each  of  the  three  centuries  of  our 
religious  history,  has  been  marked  by  a  new  and  striking 
phase,  whose  results  have  been  developed  in  the  remain 
der  of  each  century. 

The  first  century  bore  the  impress  of  the  pure  and 
devoted  ministry  of  the  Puritan  preachers. 

The  second  century  was  marked  by  the  labors  of 
Edwards  and  his  coadjutors  and  opposers,  in  the  great 
revival  beginning  in  1735,  and  extending  onwards  to  the 
disturbances  of  the  Revolution. 

The  third  century  has  witnessed  the  reanimation  of 
evangelical  religion,  and  its  collision  with  the  ripened 
fruits  of  Arminianism. 

Omitting  subordinate  causes,  the  chief  agency  m  these 
fluctuations  of  our  Religious  History  belongs  to  the 
character  and  aim  of  the  pulpit  ministrations. 

A  hasty  review  of  these  three  periods  of  our  history 
will  show,  that  when  the  ministry  has  exalted  God,  by 
clearly  presenting  his  sovereignty,  and  by  exposing  the 
fallacy  of  self-righteous  hopes,  true  religion  has  flourished, 
and  the  churches  have  been  strengthened  and  multiplied. 
When  ministers  in  their  preaching  have  obscured  the 
sovereignty  of  God  and  the  essential  distinction  of  saints 
and  sinners,  the  wise  and  foolish  have  slumbered  together. 

Let  us  take  this  review. 

I.  The  first  ministers  of  these  colonies  were  eminently 
godly  and  self-denying  men.  With  talents  fitted  by  nature 
and  by  study  to  take  possession  of  the  highest  places  of 
influence  and  honor  in  England,  and  most  of  them  actu 
ally  occupying  them,  they  conscientiously  resigned  lucra 
tive  and  important  situations,  because  they  could  not,  in 
them,  worship  God  as  he  required  ;  and  they  came  here, 


12  HISTORY    OF 

with  the  like-minded  of  their  flock,  -where  no  civil  author 
ity  should  vie  with  the  claims  of  God.  Such  men  would 
not,  and  did  not,  dimly  apprehend  nor  obscurely  present 
the  truths  of  God,  to  obey  which  they  had  already  sacri 
ficed  so  much.  They  were  the  beloved  associates  of 
Bates,  and  Howe,  and  Baxter,  and  Owen  ;  and  like  these 
well-known  defenders  of  the  faith,  they  put  foremost  in 
their  preaching  the  great  truths  of  the  sovereignty  of 
God,  and  his  electing  purposes  ;  a  Divine  Redeemer  and 
his  vicarious  atonement. 

Some  who  love  to  boast  of  a  Puritanic  descent  for  the 
sake  of  their  legacies,  studiously  obliviate  the  fact  of  the 
high  Calvinism  of  those  worthies.  But  if  they  have  not 
left  learned  and  scientific  systems  of  theology,  it  in  no 
wise  follows  that  they  lightly  esteemed  the  great  princi 
ples  of  the  doctrines  of  grace.  These  doctrines  were  not 
the  points  at  issue  between  themselves  and  the  church 
they  left,  and  they  called  not  for  a  labored  defence  when 
the  protestant  world  were  remarkably  harmonious  on  the 
chief  points  of  doctrine. 

In  examining  the  theology  of  the  first  ministers  of 
New  England,  we  are  not  to  forget  the  main  object  for 
which  they  came  hither.  Says  President  Oakes  in  his 
election  sermon  of  1673,  "  It  is  worthy  to  be  remem 
bered  by  these  churches,  that  it  was  not  on  account  of 
any  peculiar  sentiments  in  doctrinal  matters,  that  our 
wise  and  good  fathers  left  their  native  country,  and  came 
into  this  then  howling  wilderness  ;  for  they  agreed  to  the 
doctrinal  articles  of  the  church  of  England,  as  much  as 
the  conformists  to  that  parliamentary  church,  and  indeed 
much  more  so  than  most  of  them.  But  it  was  from  a 
pure  respect  to  ecclesiastical  discipline  and  order,  and  to 


MENDON    ASSOCIATION.  13 

a  more  refined  worship,  that  these  excellent  men,  our  an 
cestors,  transplanted  themselves,  with  their  families,  to 
this  land."  And  to  this  same  purport  agrees  the  pre 
face  to  the  confession  of  faith  adopted  by  the  synod  of 
1679.  "  There  have  been  some  who  have  reflected  upon 
these  New  England  churches,  for  ouf  defect  in  this  mat 
ter,  as  if  our  principles  were  not  known :  whereas  it  is 
well  known,  that  as  to  matters  of  doctrine,  we  agree  with 
other  Reformed  churches.  Nor  was  it  that  but  what 
concerns  worship  and  discipline,  that  caused  our  fathers 
to  come  into  this  wilderness,  while  it  was  a  land  not 
sown,  that  so  they  might  have  liberty  .to  practise  ac 
cordingly." 

The  Theology  of  the  Puritans  will  thereforejnot  bejfound 
drawn  up  in  voluminous  systems,  scientifically  defined  and 
lengthily  argued.  Yet  New  England  had  a  Theology 
from  the  beginning,  and  her  first  ministers  were  very  par 
ticular  to  state  the  fact  to  the  world. 

The  historian  of  Harvard  University  may  gravely  wonder 
that  there  was  not  "  some  form  of  sound  words,  some  creed, 
some  catechism,  some  medulla  Theologia,"  yet  there  was, 
a  creed ;  publicly  adopted  by  the  Pastors  and  messengers 
of  all  the  churches  in  the  colonies.  The  synod  of  1648 
distinctly  declare — "  Our  churches  here,  as  (by  the  grace 
of  Christ)  we  believe  and  profess  the  same  doctrine  of  the 
truth  of  the  Gospel,  which  generally  is  received  in  all  the  Re 
formed  churches  in  Europe,  so  especially  we  desire  not 
to  vary  from  the  doctrine  of  faith  and  truth  held  forth  by 
the  churches  of  our  native  country."  The  same  assertion 
is  substantially  repeated  by  every  succeeding  synod  even 
to  the  last. 

Now  the  confession  of  the  Westminster  Assembly  — 
2 


14  ^HISTORYOF 

the  Savoy  confession,  and  the  New  England  confession  of 
1680  are  known.  Let  the  querist  review  those  expo 
nents  of  the  faith  of  our  fathers,  mark  the  central  ob 
ject  of  their  belief, — the  prominence  of  special  grace  in 
Redemption,  —  and  let  him  ponder,  whether  the  men  who 
ventured  their  lives  for  their  faith  would  belie  their  pub 
lished  creeds  in  their  pulpit  ministrations,  and  dimly  ex 
hibit  in  the  desk  truths  which  they  laid  at  the  basis  of 
their  theological  system. 

Their  works — thanks  to  the  Doctrinal  Tract  and  Book 
Society  —  will  soon  be  accessible  to  moderns,  and  we 
can  see  if  Jesus  Christ  on  the  throne  of  his  glory  was  not 
the  end  of  their  preaching,  as  he  was  of  their  conversion ! 

Say  the  venerable  Higginson  and  Hubbard,  in  their 
testimony  to  the  order  of  the  Gospel  in  the  churches  of 
New  England,  "  We  that  saw  the  persons,  who  •  from 
four  famous  colonies,  assembled  in  the  synod,  that  agreed 
on  our  Platform  of  church  discipline  (that  is,  the  synod 
of  1648),  cannot  forget  their  excellent  character.  They 
•were  men  of  great  renown  in  the  nation  from  whence  the 
Laudian  persecution  exiled  them :  their  learning,  their 
holiness,  their  gravity,  struck  all  that  knew  them  with  ad 
miration.  They  were  Timothies  in  their  houses,  Chry- 
sostoms  in  pulpits,  Augustines  in  their  disputations.  The 
prayers,  the  studies,  the  humble  inquiries,  with  which 
they  sought  after  the  mind  of  God,  were  as  likely  to  pros 
per  as  any  men's  upon  earth,  and  the  sufferings  wherein 
they  were  confessors  for  the  name  of  the  truth  of  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  add  unto  the  arguments  which  would 
persuade  us,  that  our  gracious  Lord  would  reward  and 
honor  them,  with  communicating  much  of  his  truth  unto 
them." 


MENDON    ASSOCIATION.  15 

Our  mathematics  may  be  confounded  by  their  inter 
minable  subdivisions  of  a  subject,  our  rhetorical  taste  may 
be  offended  at  their  far-fetched  illustrations,  and  our  ex- 
egetical  rules  at  the  application  of  some  of  their  proof-texts, 
but  we  cannot  deny  that  they  emphatically  exalted  God 
as  the  just  Disposer  of  all  things,  and  abased  man  as  a 
sinner  deserving  endless  punishment  for  his  guilty  re 
bellion. 

They  bowed  with  silent  deference  to  the  word  of  God, 
and  most  devoutly  followed  what  they  believed  to  be  its 
teachings,  whether  they  wished  to  test  a  doctrine,  found 
a  state,  or  forestall  a  vicious  practice. 

And  need  I  say,  God  honored  the  ministry  of  those 
worthy  men  ?  Dr.  Increase  Mather  tells  us,  "  In  a  ser 
mon  before  the  houses  of  Parliament  and  the  Westminster 
Assembly  the  preacher  exclaimed,  '  I  have  lived  in  a 
country  seven  years,  and  all  that  time  I  never  heard  one 
profane  oath,  and  all  that  time  I  did  never  see  a  man 
drunk  in  that  land.  Where  was  that  country  ?  It  was 
New  England.'  " 

But  God  bestowed  more  than  these  temporal  blessings. 
His  Holy  Spirit  was  present  in  those  primitive  churches, 
and  under  the  faithful,  energetic  aim  of  his  sword  of 
truth,"  the  slain  of  the  Lord  were  many." 

It  is  said  of  Mr.  Shepard,  of  Cambridge,  that  "  he 
scarce  ever  preached  a  sermon,  but  some  or  other  of  his 
congregation  were  struck  with  great  distress  of  soul,  and 
cried  out  aloud  in  agony,  "  What  shall  I  do  to  be  saved." 
Though  his  voice  was  low,  yet  so  searching  was  his  preach 
ing,  and  so  great  a  power  attending  as  an  hypocrite  could 
not  easily  bear  it,  and  it  seemed  almost  irresistible." 

The  first  forty  years  of  our  churches'  history  was  a 


16  HISTORY     OF 

period  of  almost  continuous  revivals.  The  influences  of 
God's  grace  came  down,  not  as  in  these  later  times,  in 
occasional  showers,  but  as  the  gentle  dew,  continually 
descending  upon  the  earth.  "  It  was  a  common  question 
for  those  who  were  detained  at  home,  to  put  to  their  friends 
who  had  attended  meeting,  whether  anybody  appeared  to 
be  wrought  upon  to-day." 

In  consequence  of  this  blessing  upon  ministeral  fideli 
ty,  the  churches  increased  and  multiplied. 

In  the  Cambridge  synod  of  1648,  twenty-eight  years 
after  the  first  settlement  in  New  England,  were  repre 
sented  thirty-nine  churches.  These  were  in  the  colonies 
of  Plymouth  and  Massachusetts.  Add  the  four  churches 
in  the  Connecticut  colonies,  and  the  three  in  New  Hamp 
shire,  and  there  were,  in  a  population  of  less  than  thirty 
thousand,  forty-six  churches,  each  with  its  sanctuary  and 
most  of  them  with  two  ministers  each ;  being  a  place  of 
worship  and  one  or  two  ministers  for  every  six  hundred 
and  fifty  souls.  The  ablest  of  these  churches  were  poor 
er  in  this  world's  goods  than  many  congregations  now  who 
think  the  scanty  support  of  one  minister  a  burden  too  great 
to  bear.  But  those  godly  men  prised  the  faithful  minis 
try  of  the  word,  more  than  bodily  luxuries ;  and  God 
blessed  them  in  soul  and  estate.  In  fifty  years,  the  num 
ber  of  churches  arose  to  seventy-six,  although  the  reac 
tion  in  favor  of  puritanism  in  England  under  Cromwell, 
had  nearly  arrested  the  flow  of  immigration. 

And  in  all  those  churches  there  was  one  Lord,  one  faith, 
one  baptism ;  "  and  they  continued  steadfast  in  the  Apos 
tles'  doctrine  and  fellowship,  and  in  breaking  of  bread,  and 
in  prayers,"  until  certain  men  crept  in  unawares  into  the 
pulpits  of  New  England,  and  gave  to  the  silver  trumpets 


MENDON    ASSOCIATION.  17 

of  the  Gospel  an  unwarranted  utterance.  Then  the  days 
of  our  Zion's  glory  for  a  time  passed  away.  God  as  a  holy 
Sovereign,  before  whom  the  wicked  shall  not  stand,  was  de 
spised,  and  in  return,  his  long  favored  heritage  was  light 
ly  esteemed. 

The  causes  of  a  temporary  desertion  had  been  for  some 
time  at  work.  What  has  been  termed  the  half-way  cov 
enant  was  proposed  in  1662,  and  extensively  adopted,  by 
•which  persons  of  not  scandalous  lives,  yet  not  pretending 
to  be  regenerated  men  were,  on  owning  the  covenant,  ad 
mitted  to  the  privileges  of  church-membership. 

No  prudential  reasons  could  arrest  the  evils  of  this  rad 
ical  innovation  upon  the  constitution  of  the  churches,  not 
the  least  of  which  evils  was  the  introduction  of  unconverted 
men  into  the  ministry.  This  woful  fact  was  even  justi 
fied.  Even  the  acute  Stoddard,  of  strong  Presbyterial 
tendencies,  and  who  had  been  a  main  cause  of  making 
this  breach  in  the  walls  of  Zion,  ^publicly  argued  that 
"  unconverted  ministers  have  certain  official  duties  which 
they  may  lawfully  perform,"  —  and,  consequently,  upon 
which  the  people  may  lawfully  attend. 

The  character  of  their  pulpit  ministrations  speedily  re 
vealed  the  character  of  such  incumbents.  The  Gospel 
was  clothed  in  a  dress,  which  fettered  its  athletic  grasp. 
Unregenerate  doings  became  the  key  to  open  the  king 
dom  of  Heaven.  It  was  preached  and  believed,  that  im 
penitent  men  may  prepare  the  way  for  their  own  regen 
eration,  and  that  while  they  are  busy  in  their  self-right 
eous  formalities,  they  are  doing  very  well.  The  germ  of 
Arminianism  was  not  only  dropped  in  a  prepared  soil,  it  was 
tilled  and  watered :  and  rapidly  it  struck  its  roots  down 
wards  and  shot  its  branches  upwards. 

2* 


18  HISTORY     OP 

The  Holy  Spirit,  thus  deprived  of  his  office-work,  re 
turned  for  a  season  to  heaven.  The  churches  dwindled 
away,  or  were  filled  with  ungodly  members,  and  Zion's 
banners  of  past  victories  hung  drooping  in  the  dust. 
There  was  sorrowful  occasion  for  the  pathetic  lament  of 
the  aged  Increase  Mather,  who  at  first  earnestly  stemmed 
the  changing  tide,  but  whose  fading  eye  failed  to  detect 
the  real  inlet  of  the  flood  of  evils.  "Look  into  our  pulpits," 
says  he,  "  and  see  if  there  is  such  a  glory  there  as  once 
there  was.  New  England  has  had  teachers  eminent  for 
learning,  and  no  less  eminent  for  holiness,  and  all  minis 
terial  accomplishments.  When  will  Boston  see  a  Cotton 
and  a  Norton  again?  When  will  New  England  see  a  Hooker, 
a  Shepard,  a  Mitchell,  not  to  mention  others  ?  Look  into 
our  civil  state.  Does  Christ  reign  there  as  once  he  did  ? 
How  many  churches,  how  many  towns  are  there  in  New 
England,  that  we  may  sigh  over  them,  and  say,  <  Thy 
glory  is  gone.' >: 

Truly  the  first  period  of  our  religious  history  teaches 
that  they  that  despise  God  shall  be  lightly  esteemed  ! 

II.  I  pass  to  the  second  period. 

Though  God  spake  against  Ephraim,  he  earnestly  re 
membered  him  still.  His  sustaining  promise  to  ancient 
Zion  deserted  was  not  recalled.  "For  a  small  moment  have 
I  forsaken  thee  ;  but  with  great  mercies  will  I  gather  thee. 
In  a  little  wrath  I  hid  my  face  from  thee  for  a  moment ; 
but  with  everlasting  kindness  will  I  have  mercy  on  thee, 
saith  the  Lord  thy  Kedeemer." 

God  was  preparing  the  way  for  its  fulfilment.  He 
was  raising  up  a  youth  in  an  obscure  village  in  the  Con 
necticut  colony,  and  was  leading  him  through  the  miry 
depths  of  his  own  depravity,  that  he  might,  through  pain- 


MEND  ON     ASSOCIATION.  19 

fully-gained  self-knowledge,  proclaim  the  truths  of  sove 
reign  and  special  grace  to  a  slumbering  generation. 

In  1734,  Jonathan  Edwards  preached  his  sermons  on 
4  Justification  by  Faith  alone.'  Multitudes  condemned  the 
introduction  of  such  a  controversial  theme  into  the  pulpit. 
But  God's  Spirit  owned  his  truth  and  came  down  in  mar 
vellous  power  amongst  the  faithful  shepherd's  flock. 
Above  three  hundred  in  Northampton  became  the  hopeful 
subjects  of  Divine  grace.  Other  watchmen,  waiting  in  the 
darkness,  saw  the  light,  and  they  sounded  out  the  Gospel- 
call  with  a  new  energy.  Sleeping  assemblies  were  start 
led,  heard,  and  believed.  The  great  revival  of  1740  had 
begun. 

Notwithstanding  its  bitter  opposition  and  its  manifest 
extravagances  towards  the  close,  that  revival  must  be  ac 
knowledged  to  be  a  work  of  God,  which  proved  the  reani- 
mation  of  the  fainting  churches.  President  Edwards, 
under  whose  ministry  it  was  first  manifested,  and  in  its 
purest  stage,  was  no  artful,  fascinating  orator.  He  stood 
calm  and  serene  in  his  pulpit,  while  he  reasoned  of  right 
eousness,  temperance,  and  judgment  to  come.  In  plain 
but  solemn  language  he  preached  on  such  themes  as  : 

*  Men  naturally  God's  enemies  ;'  *  the  Justice  of  God  in 
the  Damnation  of  Sinners  ;'  '  Wicked  Men  useful  in  their 
destruction  only ;'  '  Sinners  in  the  hands  of  an  angry  God ;' 

*  God  exercises  his  sovereign  Mercy  in  the   salvation  of 
Sinners ;'  and  the  people  often  cried  out  in  such  agony 
of  conviction,  that  he  had  to  request  them  to  be  still,  that 
he  might  be  heard. 

In  that  time  of  refreshing  from  the  presence  of  the  Lord, 
carried  on  by  the  labors  of  Edwards,  Whitefield,  the  Ten- 
nents,  and  others,  it  was  abundantly  evident,  that  the 


20  HISTORY    OP 

most  numerous  and  most  decided  cases  of  conversion  took 
place  under  the  clearest  exhibitions  of  the  sovereign  grace 
of  Grod  in  the  salvation  of  men.  The  most  successful  min 
isters  were  preeminently  marked  for  the  prominence  they 
gave  to  this  aspect  of  the  Gospel.  They  demolished  the 
curious  distinctions  that  dreaming  speculatists  had  traced 
over  the  space  which  separates  the  sinner  from  his  God  ; 
they  stripped  him  of  his  filmy  guises,  put  on  to  hide  his 
inborn  deformity,  and  brought  him  under  the  burning  gaze 
of  Jehovah's  awful  holiness.  They  knocked  away  the 
props  of  his  tottering  hopes  and  let  him  fall,  helpless,  into 
the  hands  of  a  sovereign  God,  who  can  justly  destroy  or 
graciously  save.  They  banished  the  apologies  of  a  natu 
ral  necessity  of  sinning,  and  made  their  hearers  feel  that 
they  were  voluntary  transgressors  of  a  holy  law,  and  de 
served  eternal  death  ;  and  that  their  only  hope  of  deliver 
ance  lay  in  the  will  of  him  "  who  hath  mercy  on  whom 
he  will  have  mercy,  and  whom  he  will  he  hardeneth." 
And  what  wonder  if  men  cried  out  in  agony,  "  Men  and 
brethren,  what  shall  we  do  ?"  And  what  wonder  if,  struck 
with  the  agreement  of  such  an  aspect  of  the  Gospel  with 
their  own  convictions,  multitudes  believed  ? 

If  in  anything  Theology  as  a  science  then  received  a 
New  England  type,  it  mainly  consisted  in  making  sin  to 
consist  in  a  voluntary  selfishness,  which  could  be  em 
braced  by  the  mind  as  a  conscious  reality,  and  to  whose 
charge  the  heart  had  to  confess,  with  self-conviction  of  its 
truth. 

The  definitions  of  depravity  which  made  it  to  be  an 
inherited  physical,  intellectual,  and  moral  corruption, 
antedating  the  sinner's  agency,  if  not  his  individual  being, 
were  then  invaded,  and  the  deadening  inference  fell  with 


MEND ON    ASSOCIATION.  21 

it,  that  man  must  wait  the  operations  of  the  Divine  Spirit 
to  restore  what  he  himself  cannot  reach.  Instead  thereof, 
man's  ruin  was  made  to  stand  out  as  really  his  own  vol 
untary  work,  for  which  God  and  his  own  conscience  held 
him  responsible.  Because  his  lack  of  holiness  sprang  from 
his  own  voluntary  wilfulness  of  choosing  the  fancied  hap 
piness  of  self  to  the  glory  of  God.  Religion  was  no  longer 
the  belief  of  a  nicely-adjusted  system  of  opinions,  neither 
a  zeal  in  unregenerate  doings,  but  a  radical  change  of  the 
affections  from  selfishness  to  benevolence. 

The  actual  amount  of  influence  of  the  deep  researches 
of  President  Edwards  upon  the  theology  of  his  times,  re 
mains  to  be  determined.  It  cannot  be  doubted  that  he 
exposed  many  untenable  positions,  which  had  been  taken 
by  the  defenders  of  truth,  and  that  he  did  make  new  and 
valuable  contributions  to  the  treasures  of  doctrinal  know 
ledge.  Few  perhaps  would  adopt  literally  the  encomium 
of  Dr.  D wight,  that  he, 

"  —  In  one  little  life,  the  Gospel  more 
Disclosed  than  all  earth's  myriads  kenned  before." 

Yet  all  admit  that  the  pearl  of  great  price,  so  to  speak, 
sparkled  with  fresh  brilliancy  and  with  a  brighter  play  of 
colors,  under  the  friction  of  his  powerful  hand.  He  cer 
tainly  presented  its  salient  points  in  clear  and  sharp 
outline,  and  he  removed  much  of  the  incrustation  which 
had  accumulated  on  its  faces  and  dimmed  their  original 
brightness.  In  other  words,  he  carefully  defined  the 
terms  of  Theology  and  clearly  showed  the  arguments  on 
which  its  truths  really  rested,  and  as  clearly  showed  what 
arguments  weakened  the  force  of  truth  and  exposed  it  to 
perversion. 


22  HISTORY    OF 

Had  he  only  exhibited  Theology  as  a  rational  and  har 
monious  system,  he  would  deserve  the  high  honor  God 
bestowed  upon  his  labors.  But  he  did  more.  Guided 
by  a  singular  sagacity,  always  true  to  the  lode-star  of 
Revelation,  he  searched  regions  of  truth  before  unexam- 
ined,  and  returned  safely,  as  few  others  could  have  done, 
laden  with  rich  spoils,  which  he  laid  at  the  feet  of  "  Him 
in  whom  are  hid  all  the  treasures  of  wisdom  and  know 
ledge."  The  younger  Edwards  specifies  ten  particulars 
wherein  his  father  made  improvements  in  Theology.* 
The  chief  of  them  respect  the  subjects  of  liberty  and 
necessity,  the  nature  of  true  virtue,  the  origin  of  moral 
evil,  the  atonement,  imputation,  the  nature  of  experi 
mental  religion  and  regeneration.  The  substance  of  these 
consists  in  bringing  God  and  man  near  together,  and 
shortening  the  chain  connecting  the  moral  agency  of  the 
Creator  and  the  creature.  Many  of  these  points  wrere 
followed  out  by  Bellamy,  Hopkins,  Einmons,  and  others, 
and  made  to  cast  a  clearer  light  upon  some  of  the  obscu 
rities  of  theological  science,  f 

*  See  Edwards's  Works,  Vol.  I,  p.  481,  Doct.  Tract  Soc.  Edition. 

f  The  history  of  doctrinal  theology  in  New  England  is  a  rich 
and  yet  unexplored  field,  and  a  volume  upon  the  subject  a  desid 
eratum  which  ought  to  be  supplied.  Inquiry  and  research  has  had 
unrestricted  freedom,  and  every  position  has  been  most  rigorously 
scrutinized,  assaulted,  and  defended,  and  the  progress  and  results 
would  furnish  a  captivating  and  valuable  theme.  President  Ed 
wards  has  been  lauded,  but  who  has  traced  his  actual  progress  in 
investigation,  and  shown  what  he  actually  did  in  theology  ?  Who 
has  fully  exhibited  the  influence  of  the  studies,  preaching,  and 
printing  of  Bellamy  and  Hopkins  upon  their  contemporaries  and 
successors  ?  Who  has  analyzed  '  New  England  Theology/  and 


MENDON    ASSOCIATION.  23 

1  Without  deciding  -whether  President  Edwards  is  to  be 
considered  the  father  of  Hopkinsianism,  it  is  certain  that 
he  believed  and  stated  some  of  its  leading  peculiarities, 
however  he  might  have  reconciled  them  with  opinions 
elsewhere  uttered  in  his  works. 

The  influence  of  such  a  view  of  Divine  truth  as  Edwards 
and  his  associates  and  successors  presented,  so  far  as  it 
extended,  was  felt  in  the  preparation  of  sermons,  and  in 
their  delivery,  and  in  their  reception.  It  fashioned  that 
metaphysical,  argumentative  style,  —  that  doctrine,  proof 
and  inference  method,  —  of  sermonizing,  which  still  char 
acterizes  most  of  the  pulpits  of  Massachusetts,  and  im 
parts  to  them  much  of  their  efficiency. 

This  mode  of  preaching  has  been  severely  criticised. 
But  if  such  were  human  depravity,  as  Edwards,  Bellamy, 
and  Hopkins  defined  it,  its  defences  were  not  to  be  de~ 
molished  by  a  volley  of  proof  texts  from  a  phalanx  of 
exegetical  comments  in  quaint  uniform  ;  but  by  some  one 
mighty  truth  from  God's  word  aimed  at  the  gate  of  the 
understanding,  under  cover  of  which,  earnest  logic  made 

traced  its  elements  along  their  respective  channels,  up  to  the 
parental  source  ?  Is  it  not  time  that  this  were  fully,  fairly,  tho 
roughly  done  ?  The  great  quaternions  of  the  last  century- 
deserve  it.  Dr.  Hopkins,  especially,  has  been  viewed  through 
some  such  medium  as  Cromwell  has  until  lately  been,  —  a  cold, 
abstract  speculatist,  with  a  meagre  retinue  of  disciples,  now  di 
minished  to  a  point.  His  able  memoir,  by  Prof.  Park,  has  refuted 
this  impression,  and  shown  the  leader  of  the  New  Divinity  to  have 
been  one  of  the  mightiest  and  most  influential  minds  of  America, 
full  of  benevolent  plans,  which  now  bless  the  world  by  their  prac 
tical  operation. 


24  HISTORY    OF 

repeated  charges,  through  the  breach,  upon  the  conscience 
and  heart. 

Sinners  that  had  long  stood  the  pattering  of  divisions 
and  subdivisions,  and,  like  the  walls  of  Jotapata,  had 
only  become  harder  under  the  concussion,  fell  now  at 
once  before  the  sword  of  the  Word,  when  wielded  by 
Him  who  knows  the  joints  of  the  soul  and  spirit.  This 
practical,  common-sense  theology  —  if  New  England  may 
have  the  glory  of  it  —  was  a  sure  earnest  of  that  honor 
which  cometh  from  God  only.  The  blessed  fruits  of  the 
ministerial  labors  of  the  Edwardses  and  their  contempo 
raries  —  of  Bellamy,  Hopkins,  Strong,  West  of  Stock- 
bridge,  Spring,  Emmons,  and  others  —  are  still  cluster 
ing  and  ripening  to  refresh  the  people  of  God.  The 
honor  which  God  bestowed  upon  them  that  thus  honored 
him,  still  circles  the  brows  and  sparkles  on  the  robes  of 
Zion.  The  churches  which  sympathized  with  the  spirit 
of  those  times  of  refreshing  stand  to-day,  perhaps  without 
exception,  with  the  light  of  that  gracious  visitation  linger 
ing  about  their  walls  and  watch-towers,  and  clothing  them 
in  beauty  and  radiance.  But  there  were  many  ministers 
and  churches  who  looked  either  suspiciously  or  hatingly 
upon  the  revivals  of  the  last  century.  Some  honestly 
opposed,  regarding  only  the  excesses  of  their  close.  But 
many  wickedly  maligned  a  work  which  so  plainly  con 
demned  them  of  having  sadly  mistaken  the  spirit  of  the 
Gospel. 

The  results  and  the  cause  of  this  hostile  attitude 
towards  vital  piety  thus  revived  were  not  long  concealed. 
The  opposing  ministers  mostly  took  with  rapidity  the  few 
remaining  steps  which  separated  them  from  open  Ar- 
minianism.  The  leader  of  the  opposition  stopped  riot  in 


MEN DON    ASSOCIATION.  25 

his  haste,  till  he  reached  the  middle  of  the  great  desert  of 
Universalism.  The  churches,  losing  sight  of  their  fleeing 
shepherds,  wandered  dreamily  on,  tithing  their  mint  and 
anise  and  cummin  on  their  way,  undisturbed  by  the  weight 
ier  matters  of  the  law,  until  they  were  gradually  lost  in 
the  misty  regions  of  Unitarianism,  where  many  of  them  are 
still  stumbling  and  still  dreaming.*  In  rapid  succession 
after  the  revival  of  1740,  followed  the  exciting  scenes  of 
the  Indian  wars,  the  oppressions  of  the  English  parlia 
ment,  the  stirring  times  of  the  Revolutionary  war,  the 
formation  of  the  Federal  Government.  They  absorbed 
the  thoughts  and  energies  of  the  country,  and  the  light 
of  Zion  was  for  a  time  again  obscured. 

III.  The  illustration  of  the  sentiment  of  this  discourse 
might  be  continued  from  the  present  century,  but  the 
want  of  time  and  a  becoming  modesty  forbid  my  entering 
where  many  before  me  have  the  familiar  acquaintance  of 
active  participation. 

I  will  just  say,  however,  that  the  deadening  influences 
of  the  Revolution,  and  the  blasted  path  of  the  infidelity 
imported  with  our  French  allies,  are  still  traceable,  and 
Zion  has  not  yet  wholly  recovered  of  her  sickness  and 
faintness,  from  eating  the  fruits  of  Arminianism.  And 
on  the  other  hand,  the  vigorous  struggles  of  a  few  firm 
lovers  of  the  Gospel  of  the  grace  of  God,  against  these 

*  The  new  divinity  has  been  repeatedly  accused  of  opening 
the  door  for  the  admission  of  Unitarianism  into  the  Congregational 
churches.  No  accusation  is  more  unfounded.  It  was  the  chief 
barrier  to  its  entire  prevalence.  Of  the  Hopkinsian  churches, 
none  are  known  to  have  become  Unitarian.  This  error  flourished 
exclusively  among  the  opponents  to  Hopkinsianism. 
3 


26  HISTORY    OE 

antagonistic  influences,  are  fresh  in  remembrance.  I 
need  only  allude  to  the  surprising  evidences  of  a  once 
secretly  and  actively  driven  effort  to  undermine .  the 
foundations  of  the  Gospel  revealed  by  the  disclosures  of 
Belsham's  chapter  on  "  American  Unitarianism."  You 
saw  the  width  to  which  many  eyes  were  then  opened,  and 
the  light  then  reflected  on  many  movements  ambiguous 
before. 

The  startling  cry  of  alarm  was  raised  from  many  a 
watchman  who  had  not  been  asleep  in  his  observatory. 
The  "  Spirit  of  the  Pilgrims  "  reappeared  amongst  their 
descendants.  The  well-proved  weapons  of  the  Panoply 
were  drawn  from  the  "  Christian's  Armory,"  and  the 
encounter  was  earnest. 

Many  a  church  planted  by  the  Puritans  —  the  object 
of  their  living  labors  and  their  dying  prayers  —  found 
itself  suddenly  and  magically  jostled  from  the  sanctuary 
of  its  fathers.  The  legal  tribunals  seized  many  a  fund, 
"  devoted  to  Christ  and  the  Church,"  and  even  grasped 
the  sacramental  vessels,  and  handed  them  over  to  those 
who  accounted  the  blood  of  the  covenant  an  unholy 
thing. 

But  God  appeared  for  those  who  boldly  honored  him 
•when  his  Gospel  was  reviled,  and  he  rained  down  right 
eousness  upon  them.  Extensive  revivals  followed,  and 
many  a  plundered  and  exiled  church  was  enriched  and 
strengthened,  as  it  came  out  of  the  wilderness  of  its 
destitution,  leaning  upon  the  arm  of  the  Beloved. 

Within  twenty-five  years  after  the  Unitarian  contro 
versy,  upwards  of  two  hundred  Congregational  churches 
were  gathered  in  this  state  alone,  on  "  the  foundation  of 
the  Prophets  and  Apostles,  Jesus  Christ  himself  being 


MEND  ON    ASSOCIATION.  27 

the  chief  corner-stone  ; "  and  now  in  the  middle  of  this 
century  of  revivals  and  of  active  benevolence  for  the 
cause  of  Christ, 

"  Let  strangers  walk  around 

The  city  where  we  dwell, 
Compass  and  view  the  holy  ground, 
And  mark  the  buildings  well,  — 

and  let  them  say  if  God  doth  not  still  observe  the  prin 
ciple  which  he  announced  to  the  high-priest  of  Israel 
more  than  three  thousand  years  ago  :  "  Them  that  honor 
me  I  will  honor,  and  they  that  despise  me  shall  be  lightly 
esteemed." 

IV.  Illustrations  of  the  truth  in  the  text  might  be 
drawn  from  the  history  of  this  Association,  and  of  the 
churches  within  its  bounds.  But  I  am  confined  to  the 
brief  statements  of  a  few  facts  of  general  interest,  leaving 
it  to  you  to  trace  their  connection  with  the  general 
theme. 

As  the  services  of  this  day  show,  this  Association  of 
ministers  was  organized  on  the  8th  of  November,  1751, 
old  style,  or  on  the  19th  according  to  present  computa 
tion.  It  was  formed  in  the  second  parish  of  Mendon, 
now  called  Milford,  at  the  house  of  Rev.  Amariah  Frost, 
pastor  of  the  church  in  that  parish. 

Its  name  was  derived  from  the  place  of  its  organiza 
tion. 

On  that  day,  four  pastors  of  neighboring  churches, 
having  met  together,  and  as  they  say,  u  Being  thotful 
that  it  might  tend  to  the  advancement  of  ye  glory  of 
Christ  and  of  his  kingdom  and  interest  in  this  vicinity, 


28  HISTORY    OP 

for  them  to  associate,  have  tho't  it  duty,  and  accordingly, 
first  voted  themselves  associated." 

These  pastors  were, 
Rev.  Joseph  Dorr,  pastor  of  the  first  church  in  Mendon, 

"     Nathan  Webb,  pastor  of  the  church  in  Uxbridge, 
"     Amariah  Frost,  pastor  of   the  second   church  in 
Mendon. 

"     Elisha  Fish,  pastor  of  the  church  in  Upton. 

Ministerial  associations  had  existed  in  England  as 
early  as  1576,  though  they  were  soon  put  down  by 
Elizabeth  as  savoring  too  much  of  Puritanism.  They 
have  existed  here  substantially  from  the  beginning  of  the 
country ;  but  at  times  watched  with  great  jealousy,  lest 
they  should  prove  a  stepping-stone  to  Presbyterianism 
and  ministerial  usurpation.*  In  1641,  the  general  court 
virtually  authorized  such  meetings,  with  the  proviso, 
"  that  nothing  be  concluded  or  imposed  by  way  of 
authority  from  one  or  more  churches  upon  another,  but 
only  by  way  of  brotherly  conference  and  consultation." 
A  proviso  which  more  than  two  centuries  has  shown  to 
have  had  but  rare  application. 

In  the  three  towns  just  mentioned,  churches  had  but 
recently  been  gathered. 

The  first  church  of  Mendon  was  indeed  formed  in  1669, 

*  See  Christian  Observatory,  vol.  iii.,  p.  389.  The  oldest 
known  regular  association  there  given  was  formed  "  at  Charlestown, 
N.  E.,  October  13,  1690,"  and  met  at  the  College  in  Cambridge 
on  "  Monday,  at  nine  or  ten  o'clock  in  the  morning,  once  in  six 
weeks,  or  oftener  if  need  shall  be."  A  semi-monthly  meeting  of 
the  ministers  of  Boston  and  vicinity,  at  the  house  of  the  members 
in  succession,  was  commenced  in  1635. 


~  or  THF  V 


UNIVHRSITY 

V 

MENDOX    ASSOCIATION.  29 


but  was  broken  up  by  the  Indian  wars.  The  second 
church  was  not  organized  until  1741. 

The  church  in  Uxbridge  was  gathered  in  1731,  by  the 
labors  of  Mr.  Dorr,  and  that  in  Upton  in  1735. 

At  the  date  of  the  formation  of  this  body,  Rev.  Mr. 
Dorr,  the  moderator,  was  sixty-two  years  old,  and  in  the 
thirty-eighth  year  of  his  ministry  ;  Rev.  Mr.  Webb  was 
forty-four  years  old,  and  in  the  twentieth  year  of  his 
ministry  ;  Rev.  Mr.  Frost  was  thirty-one,  and  in  the 
eighth  year  of  his  settlement  ;  Rev.  Mr.  Fish  was  thirty- 
one,  and  had  been  settled  but  six  months. 

Of  their  ministerial  character  I  have  not  time  to  speak. 
A  single  fact  reveals  their  sympathy  with  the  revival  of 
1740.  The  names  of  Joseph  Dorr  and  Nathan  "Webb 
are  appended  unconditionally  to  the  testimony  of  the 
New  England  pastors  in  favor  of  that  revival,  signed 
Boston,  July  7,  1743. 

The  other  two  members  were  not  then  settled. 

The  length  of  their  period  of  settlement  may  perhaps 
indicate  the  sympathy  of  their  churches  with  them  in  this 
particular. 

Mr.  Dorr  ministered  to  his  people  over  fifty-one  years  ; 
Mr.  Webb,  forty-one  years  ;  Mr.  Frost,  forty-nine  years  ; 
and  Mr.  Fish,  forty-four  years  ;  and  each  died  among  his 
own  people,  and  was  succeeded  by  a  pastor  of  like  faith 
with  himself. 

Wars  and  civil  commotions  arose  soon  after  the  forma 
tion  of  this  body,  and  it  shared  the  general  depression  of 
religious  interest.  But  it  arose  again  when  those  com 
motions  subsided.  The  accession^of  Dr.  Emmons  to  its 

d 

numbers  in  1783,  and  his  vigorous  activity  for  more  than 
half  a  century,  put  new  life  into  its  meetings,  and  made 
3« 


30  HISTORY    OF 

them  a  center  of  earnest  deliberation  and  of  powerful 
influence. 

Questions  of  deep  and  vital  interest  were  discussed, 
various  sermons,  essays,  tractates,  and  periodicals  were 
published  by  the  Association,  and  other  measures,  of  last 
ing  value  to  the  progress  of  truth,  and  whose  influence 
still  operates,  had  their  origin  in  its  deliberations. 

Since  the  organization  of  this  Association,  it  has  enrol. 
led  seventy-seven  members,  of  whom  forty-two  are  still 
living,  —  our  respected  moderator  being  the  oldest  mem 
ber,  —  and  twenty  are  still  connected. 

In  the  past  century,  its  territorial  center,  contrary  to 
the  commercial  law,  has  travelled  eastward,  to  this  spot, 
where  for  half  that  period  stood  firm  and  evident  the 
pivot  of  its  moral  power. 

Its  territory,  once  embracing  the  pastors  in  three 
towns,  has  variously  enlarged,  till  its  outward  points  have 
extended  from  Worcester  to  Dighton,  and  from  Abington 
to  Seekonk,  enclosing  the  pastors  of  thirty-three  different 
churches,  in  twenty-nine  different  towns.  This  extent  has 
not  been  from  convenience  more  than  from  sympathy  with 
the  scheme  of  theology  predominant  in  this  Association. 

That  scheme,  I  need  not  say,  has  been  called  Ed 
ward  ean,  Hopkinsian,  sometimes  Emmonsism.  Some 
call  it  New  England  Theology,  or,  as  others  term  it, 
New  Theology ;  who,  if  they  will  have  it  considered  new, 
may  call  it  New  Testament  Theology.  It  is  a  system 
which  most  obviously  —  as  some  say,  unduly  —  exalts 
and  honors  God  as  the  Sovereign  Ruler  of  His  creatures, 
and  abases  man.*  And  God  has  not  left  it  without  an 

*  The  term  Hopkintonian,  or  Hopkinsian,  was  applied  to  this 


MENDON    ASSOCIATION.  31 

evidence  of  his  blessing,  in  the  purity  and  stability  of  the 
churches  where  it  has  been  embraced  and  taught,  and  in 
the  rich  fruits  which  it  has  borne  to  Zion  at  large. 

While  we  avow  our  predilection  for  the  system  of  doc 
trines  in  which  we  were  nurtured,  we  believe  that  history 
will  show  that  system  to  have  been  productive  of  far 
more  good  than  many  are  even  now  disposed  to  allow. 
It  has  modified  the  current  theology  of  all  New  England, 
and  given  to  it  its  harmony,  consistency,  and  beauty,  as 
it  now  appears  in  the  creeds  of  the  churches  and  the 
teaching  of  the  ministry.  Hopkins's  system  of  theology 
has  been,  from  its  publication,  a  classic  in  the  hands  of 
candidates  for  the  sacred  office,  arid  has  sharpened  the 
intellect  and  molded  the  sentiments  of  nearly  every 
preacher. 

When  this  Association  was  formed,  Dr.  Hopkins  says 
he  could  count  but  four  or  five  Edwardean  preachers. 
And  one  of  them  —  Rev.  Dr.  Hall,  of  Sutton  —  was  a 
.member  of  this  body.  But  within  forty  years  afterwards, 
he  knew  of  more  than  a  hundred  who  espoused  his  own 
sentiments ;  and  these,  he  declares,  "  are  the  most 
popular  preachers." 

In  those  days,  when  theological  seminaries  were  not, 
candidates  pursued  their  studies  with  private  teachers. 

system  of  theology  in  1770,  by  Kev.  William  Hart  of  Say  brook, 
Ct.  It  was  previously  styled  Edwardean,  and  more  generally 
*  New  Divinity.'  The  designation,  New  England  Theology,  ap 
propriately  belongs  to  the  views  current  in  the  beginning  of  this 
century,  —  the  result  of  the  discussions  of  the  last,  and  which 
now  obtain,  with  few  exceptions,  in  New  England.  See  Memoir 
of  Hopkins,  by  Prof.  Park,  p.  183  ;  and  Dr.  Pond's  Sketches  of 
N.  E.  Theological  History,  in  the  Congregationalist,  vol.  IV. 


32  HISTORY    OF 

And  the  teachers  most  numerously  resorted  to  were 
Hopkinsians.  The  instructors,  par  excellence,  were 
Bellamy,  Hopkins,  Strong,  Backus,  and  Emmons.  An- 
dover  Seminary  was  endowed  by  Hopkinsian  funds,  and 
Bangor  Seminary  was  founded  as  well  as  endowed  by 
Hopkinsian  energy.  The  theological  chairs  of  both  in 
stitutions  have  been  filled  by  Hopkinsian  professors. 
Those  at  Bangor  have  all  been  students  of  Dr.  Emmons. 

Of  the  powerful  revivals  which  prevailed  in  more  than 
a  hundred  towns  in  New  England,  at  the  beginning  of  the 
present  century,  it  has  been  said,  that  "  they  took  place 
in  almost  all,  if  not  in  every  instance,  under  the  preach 
ing  of  those  ministers  who  had  embraced  Edwardean 
principles."* 

The  influence  of  Hopkinsianism  is  no  less  visible  in  the 
history  of  our  benevolent  organizations.  The  first  efforts 
in  England  to  send  the  Gospel  to  the  heathen  originated 
in  Carey's  contact  with  Edwardean  theology.  The 
Massachusetts  Home  Missionary  Society  is  the  own 
child  of  Hopkinsianism.  Its  first  officers,  missionaries, 
and  its  periodical,  were  strongly  Hopkinsian. f  Its 
resources  came  from  Hopkinsian  churches,  and  they  have 
been  acknowledged  to  be  still  its  most  liberal  supporters. 
The  Doctrinal  Tract  Society  was  formed  by  Hopkinsian 
divines,  within  the  then  bounds  of  this  Association,  and 
mostly  by  its  members.  Some  of  the  first  movements, 
which  resulted  in  the  formation  of  the  American  Board, 
were  taken  by  a  young  man,  —  an  ardent  disciple  of 

*  See  Hopkins's  Letter  to  Rev.  A.  Fuller,  Prof.  Park's  Memoir, 
page  237. 

t  See  Historical  Appendix,  article  Home  Missions. 


MENDON    ASSOCIATION.  33 

Hopkins  and  Emmons,  who  in  1809  unsuccessfully  essay 
ed  to  bring  the  subject  of  foreign  missions  before  the 
General  Association  of  Connecticut ;  and  who  next  turned 
his  efforts  to  the  establishment  of  a  magazine  devoted  to 
this  object,  and  visited  Mr.  Evarts,  then  at  New  Haven, 
with  special  reference  to  the  editorship.  Mr.  Evarts 
replied,  "  I  will  think  of  it."  The  following  spring,  Mr. 
Evarts  was  at  Charlestown,  as  editor  of  the  united  Pan- 
oplist  and  Magazine,  now  the  Missionary  Herald.  Rev. 
W.  Jackson,  D.  D.,  a  Hopkinsian  pastor  and  student  of 
Dr.  Emmons,  suggested  the  idea  of  the  first  education 
society  in  America,  which  his  exertion  carried  into  suc 
cessful  operation. 

These  facts  are  not  mentioned  to  glorify  Hopkinsianism, 
but  as  a  reply  to  the  occasional  insinuation,  that  it  is  a 
system  delighting  only  in  abstrusities,  and  cold  towards 
the  wants  of  a  perishing  world.  A  system  teaching  that 
all  sin  consists  in  voluntary  selfishness,  and  all  holiness 
in  disinterested  benevolence,  must,  when  cordially  em 
braced,  produce  just  such  results  as  have  been  indicated. 

The  religious  history  of  this  town  might  be  made  to 
testify  to  the  practical  workings  of  Hopkinsian  theology. 
Here  Emmonsism,  in  its  undisputed  and  undiluted  purity, 
was  drawn  out  and  borne  to  the  people  for  more  than 
half  a  century  —  saying  nothing  of  the  subsequent  time, 
—  and  though  it  was,  unlike  the  little  book  of  the  Evan 
gelist,  bitter  to  the  mouth  of  some  that  only  tasted  it, 
yet  to  them  who  inwardly  digested  it,  it  was  sweet  as 
honey  ;  so  sweet,  that  they  retain  the  relish  still,  —  as 
this  single  sanctuary  may  perhaps  indicate.  No  hostile 
faith  has  built  it  a  house  in  this  town .  nor  in  its  borders. 
No  liberal  creed  has  decoyed  any  recruits  from  this 


34  HISTOEYOF 

church.  Cursed  by  no  funds,  but  blessed  with  a  legacy 
of  sound  doctrines,  it  has  offered  no  attractions  to  the 
spoiler,  to  try  his  devices. 

Other  churches  and  localities  bear  witness  that  God 
bestows  some  honor  upon  Hopkinsian  preaching.  But  I 
will  avoid  comparisons,  and  take  shelter  behind  the  asser 
tion  of  Dr.  Dwight,  who,  in  his  travels  over  New  England, 
half  a  century  ago,  says,  "  he  found  that  those  ministers 
who  preached  the  doctrines  of  grace  earnestly  were 
generally  Hopkinsians." 

The  writings  of  Hopkins,  Strong,  Smalley,  and  Em- 
mons,  have  not  only  provoked  the  ire  of  the  reviewer,  but 
they  have  sharpened  the  logic  of  the  judge  on  the  bench, 
have  guided  the  researches  of  the  theological  student  and 
pastor,  and  have  clarified  and  strengthened  the  faith  of 
many  a  pious  layman,  even  in  the  depths  of  the  western 
wilderness. 

I  must  return  once  more  to  that  primary  meeting  of 
this  Association.  Besides  its  four  original  members, 
there  was  one  other  person  present,  —  a  young  man  who 
had  presented  himself  for  approbation  to  preach  the 
Gospel.  This  was  David  Thurston,  afterwards  first 
pastor  of  the  church  in  West  Medway,  —  the  first  licen 
tiate  and  first  admitted  member  of  this  body.  He  was 
the  antecedent  of  a  goodly  line  of  successors,  applicants 
for  the  same  recommendation. 

I  count  up  one  hundred  and  twenty-one  persons  appro 
bated  to  preach  the  Gospel  by  Mendon  Association.  Their 
listory  could  be  given,  but  statistics  are  barren  subjects 
for  declamation.  Amongst  them  are  Presidents  of  col 
leges,  Theological  Professors,  Pastors,  Evangelists,  a 


MENDON    ASSOCIATION.  35 

goodly  number  of  D.  D's.  already  in  fruition,  some  in  ex 
pectancy. 

If  the  agency  of  these  one  hundred  and  twenty-one 
ministers  of  the  Gospel  could  be  traced,  it  would  add  an 
other  illustration  to  the  truth  of  the  text, "  Them  that 
honor  me  I  will  honor,  and  they  that  despise  me  shall  be 
lightly  esteemed." 

But  I  ought  to  close  ;  yet  indulge  me  in  one  or  two  re 
flections,  suggested  by  this  subject  and  occasion.  —  If  I 
overstep  your  patience  you  may  reflect  that  you  will 
never  be  wearied  with  another  centennial  discourse  before 
the  Mendon  Association. 

The  theme  of  this  discourse,  as  illustrated  by  our  reli 
gious  history,  points  out  the  Primary  Element  of  a 
church's  real  prosperity  or  decline. 

It  is  found  in  the  character  of  its  ministry. 

As  it  was  "  like  people  like  priest "  in  the  days  of  Isaiah, 
so  has  it  been  in  all  following  ages.  When  religious 
teachers  have  catered  to  the  lusts  of  the  people,  and 
*  taught  for  doctrines  the  commandments  of  men,'  or 
have  timorously  or  slothfully  shunned  to  declare  the  whole 
counsel  of  God,  the  people  have  ripened  for  desertions 
and  divisions, — have  served  the  world  and  died  in  indiffer 
ence.  But  when  the  ministers  of  Christ  have  fully  and 
boldly  preached  the  doctrines  of  grace,  piety  has  flour 
ished,  sin  has  diminished,  and  death  has  been  robbed  of 
his  sting.  So  the  past  history  of  our  Zion  teaches  us. 
Her  days  of  brightness  have  been  when  her  heralds 
sounded  the  distinctive  notes  of  salvation,  clear,  full,  and 
piercing  to  the  conscience  and  heart.  Then  the  trump 
ets  gave  a  certain  sound,  the  hosts  of  God's  Elect  ral- 


36  HISTORY    OP 

lied  for  the  conflict  and  Zion  was  terrible  as  an  army  with 
banners.  And  so  it  must  ever  be. 

It  is  by  the  clear  exhibition  of  the  truths  of  the  Gos 
pel  that  the  carnal  heart  is  developed,  and  holy  affections 
are  exercised.  The  milk  which  the  Apostle  fed  to  the 
Corinthian  church,  was  precisely  the  doctrines  now  called 
strong  meat — Entire  depravity,  special  grace,  electing 
love.  These  truths  with  their  adjuncts,  are  the  sincere 
milk  of  the  word  which  God  has  provided  for  new  born 
souls,  whereby  they  may  grow  unto  the  stature  of  perfect 
men  in  Christ  Jesus.  And  the  church  which  understands 
the  philosophy  of  its  own  real  growth,  will  seek  to  be  fed 
with  these  truths. 

The  darkest  cloud  on  the  horizon  of  Zion's  prospect, 
is  not  the  multitude  of  the  rejectors  of  the  Gospel, —  but 
the  indifference  and  even  repugnance  of  some  of  her 
professed  friends  to  the  fundamental  doctrines  of  the 
Gospel ;  at  least,  a  cowardly  solicitude  lest  they  should  be 
preached  so  plainly  and  so  often  as  to  offend  the  world. 
This  is  the  spot  of  leprosy,  breaking  out  in  the  timber 
and  on  the  wall  of  God's  spiritual  temples,  and  indicating 
the  existence  of  decay. 

Suffer  the  exhortation,  then,  brethren  of  the  churches, 
to  cleave  to  those  humbling  but  precious  truths  whose 
faithful  presentation  has  ever  been  the  means  of  the 
church's  true  prosperity.  Be  fully  persuaded  of  them 
in  your  own  minds,  and  love  to  hear  them  preached  fully 
and  distinctly.  Encourage  your  ministers  to  fidelity. 
We  sympathize  with  the  reception  of  our  message.  And 
you  know  not  how  much  it  incites  us  to  fidelity  when  you 
show  a  delight  in  the  doctrines  of  Sovereign  and  special 
grace,  and  how  much  it  disheartens  us  to  have  our  breth- 


MEND ON     ASSOCIATION.  3T 

ren  in  the  church  predict  divisions  and  dismissions  if  we 
declare  the  whole  counsel  of  God. 

II.  This  subject  also  points  out  to  us  the  only  way  to  be 
successful  and  finally  accepted  ministers  of  Jesus  Christ. 
The  power  of  the  ministry  lies  in  the  power  of  the 
truths  of  God.  The  exercise  of  that  power  consists  in  the 
complete  and  plain  enforcement  of  those  truths.  Fidelity, 
we  have  reason  to  hope,  God  will  bless  to  the  edification 
of  Christians  and  conversion  of  sinners. 

To  this  result,  we  need  a  clear  and  systematic  knowl 
edge  of  the  Gospel,  wherein  every  doctrine  shall  have  its 
own  place  and  importance ;  then,  an  unhesitating  confi 
dence  in  the  adaptedness  of  the  Gospel  to  fit  men  for 
eternity ;  and  lastly,  an  unfaltering  courage  in  declaring 
its  every  truth,  whether  men  will  hear  or  whether  they 
will  forbear.     The  soldier  needs  unwavering  confidence 
in  the  trustiness  of  his  weapons.     The  soldier  of  the  cross 
needs  an  invincible  faith  in  the  adaptation  of  the  sword 
of  the   Spirit  to  slay  the  carnal  heart,  —  a  faith  that  it 
needs  no  polishing,  no  re-fashioning  of  his  to  give  it  edge 
and  effect.     He  should  never  substitute  weapons  of  his 
own  invention,  nor  go  down  to  the  Philistines  to  sharpen 
God's  armor.    He  is  to  approach  God's  enemies,  not  with 
feints  and  stratagems  and  masked  batteries,  but  openly 
and  fearlessly,  straight  onwards,  and  without  a  misgiving 
of  victory. 

True,  the  laws  of  the  affections  are  to  be  regarded  in 
the  mode  of  presenting  truth ;  but  those  laws  do  not  re 
quire  that  timorous  hesitancy  about  preaching  unwelcome 
truths,  that  anxious  beclouding  and  hiding  offensive  doc 
trines,  which  appears  too  often  to-day.  No.  Mighty  is 
the  truth.  In  its  own  native,  majestic  beauty,  it  is  "  the 
4 


38  HI  STORY    OF 

•wisdom  of  God  and  the  power  of  God  unto  salvation,  to 
every  one  that  believeth."  And  he  who  wisely  seeks  the 
salvation  of  his  hearers,  will  preach  the  truth  as  purely  as 
he  can. 

This  is  not,  indeed,  the  present  way  to  be  a  popular 
preacher,  courted  by  the  world,  and  coveted  by  rich  par 
ishes,  for  then  is  the  offense  of  the  cross  ceased ;  but  it  is  the 
way  to  be  popular  with  the  angels,  waiting  to  carry  up  the 
news  of  sinners'  repentance.  It  is  the  way  to  be  approved 
by  the  great  Head  of  the  church,  when  he  shall  come  the 
second  time  without  sin  unto  salvation. 

In  earnest  fidelity,  then,  my  brethren  in  the  ministry, 

let  us  preach  the  Gospel  of  the  grace  of  God.     Others 

,,-  !  "will  not  let  us  forget  that  we  are  men  ;  let  us  remember 

that  we  are  "  ministers  of  Christ  and  stewards  of  the  mys- 

* 

teries  of  God,  and  moreover  that  it  is  required  in  stewards 
that  a  man  be  found  faithful."  Only  by  an  ardent  piety, 
and  vigorous  exhibition  of  the  truth,  can  we  stem  the  tide 
now  strongly  setting  towards  a  rejection  of  the  Bible  and 
the  unsteady  billows  of  a  general  skepticism. 

Finally.  Let  this  subject  encourage  ministers  to  fidelity 
in  their  trying  work. 

You  know,  my  brethren,  that  to  preach  the  Gospel 
fully  and  faithfully,  to  a  world  who  will  not  have  Christ  to 
reign  over  them,  is  no  self- pleasing  work.  Its  humbling 
truths  do  and  must  awaken  the  enmity  of  the  carnal  mind, 
till  its  enmity  is  slain.  But  what  if,  for  our  unshrinking 
fidelity,  we  meet  with  indications  and  expressions  of  disap 
proval  from  a  sin-loving  world  ?  It  is  not  our  master. 
One  is  our  Master,  even  Christ,  and  his  "  Well  done,  good 
and  faithful  servant,"  will  make  us  more  than  conquerors, 
at  the  last.  Every  open  indignity,  every  sly  contempt, 


MEND  ON    ASSOCIATION.  39 

every  ambiguous  reception,  for  our  faithful  witness  of  Jesus 
and  of  the  word  of  God,  will  be  changed  into  a  sparkling 
gem  in  the  crown  of  glory,  by  the  strangely  transmuting 
alchemy  of  the  last  day. 

And  then,  too,  God  will  measure  the  prominence  we 
shall  have  given  to  the  peculiar  points  of  our  message. 
He  will  compute  the  value  of  the  gold,  silver,  and  precious 
stones,  wherewith  we  shall  have  enriched  the  foundation 
of  the  Gospel ;  and  he  will  apply  the  torch  to  all  the  hay, 
wood,  and  stubble  we  may  have  built  thereon  ;  and  that 
which  shall  stand  the  fiery  test  shall  indicate  our  reward. 
My  brethren,  in  view  of  such  a  trial,  what  matter  the  re 
ception  we  may  personally  receive,  if  so  be  that  we  be 
found  faithful  in  the  day  of  the  Lord  Jesus !  How  die 
away  into  inaudible  murmurs,  both  the  applauses  and  the 
hisses  of  this  world !  How  fade  its  honors  in  the  bright 
beamings  of  that  crown  which  the  Lord,  the  righteous 
Judge,  will  then  give  to  him  that  hath  fought  a  good  fight 
and  hath  kept  the  faith  ! 

And,  men  and  brethren,  this  day  and  occasion  tell  us 
that  that  final  judgment  will  soon  come.  A  century  of 
our  associational  history  has  passed  away,  yet  the  founders 
of  this  Association  seem  to  have  been  hardly  committed 
to  the  earth. —  We  enter  into  their  labors  for  a  little  while, 
soon  to  give  an  account  of  our  ministry  to  him  that  com 
missioned  us.  When  our  faces  shall  have  been  hardly 
forgotten,  another  century  will  have  passed,  and  another 
company  will  be  gathered  to  observe  a  second  centennial 
epoch.  So  rapidly,  from  high  summits  of  observation, 
does  time  appear  to  pass  away,  and  so  speedily  does  the 
day  approach  when  we  all,  ministers  and  people,  must  be 


40  HISTORY   OF  MENDON  ASSOCIATION. 

judged,  one  for  our  exhibition  and  other  for  our  reception 
of  the  Gospel  of  salvation. 

My  brethren,  then  will  the  unchangeable  principle  of 
Jehovah's  government,  which  I  have  attempted  to  set 
forth,  receive  its  fullest  illustration  : — Even  as  the  Judge, 
when  on  earth,  forewarned  his  ambassadors,  "  Whosoever 
shall  confess  me  before  men,  him  shall  the  Son  of  Man 
also  confess  before  the  angels  of  God  ;  But  he  that  de- 
nieth  me  before  men,  shall  be  denied  before  the  angels 
of  God ! " 


HISTORICAL   APPENDIX, 


THE  existent  records  of  Mendon  Association,  for  the  first 
thirty  years  of  its  existence,  consist  of  onjy  a  few  loose 
scraps  of  paper.  These  fragments  contain  little  more  than 
the  time  and  place  of  meeting,  and  the  certificates  of  appro 
bation  to  preach  the  Gospel  of  candidates  now  and  then 
examined.  Complete  records  exist  from  October  7,  1783. 
The  following  interesting  historical  items  are  added  to 
what  is  contained  in  the  preceding  pages. 

A  VERBATIM  COPY  OP    THE  RECORD    OF   THE    FIRST    MEET 
ING   OF   ASSOCIATION. 

A  number  of  Pastors  of  chhs,  viz.  of  ye  1st  chh  of  Christ 
in  Mendon,  of  ye  chh  of  Christ  in  Uxbridge,  of  ye  2d  chh  of 
Christ  in  Mendon,  and  of  yc  chh  of  Christ  in  Upton,  being 
convend  at  the  house  of  ye  Revd  Mr  Frost,  in  sd  Mendon 
Novembr  8th  1751. 

Being  thotful  that  it  might  tend  to  the  Advancmen*  of 
ye  Glory  of  Christ  and  of  his  Kingdom  and  Interest  in  this 
Vicinity,  for  them  to  Associate,  have  tho't  it  duty.  And 
Accordingly,  1st  Voted  themselves  Associated,  And  2d  Voted 
y6  Revd  Mr  Dorr  the  Moderator  of  the  Association,  3d  Mr 
Webb  the  Scribe  for  the  presfc  Meeting.  And  David  Thurs- 
4* 


42  HISTORICAL     APPENDIX. 

ton,  A.  B.,  having  applyd  himself  to  us  for  our  advice  and 
countenance  with  Regard  to  his  purpos'1  Design  to  Enter 
into  y6  great  and  important  work  of  the  Evangelical  Ministry, 
after  Supplicatn  to  God  thro'  Xfc  the  Head  of  the  chh,  and 
careful  Enquiry  into  the  Case,  offer1  unto  him  This  Testi 
monial  following  —  Viz. 

These  may  certify,  that  we,  the  Subscribers,  Associated 
Pastors  of  chhs  of  Christ,  Have,  upon  the  application  of  Mr 
David  Thurston,  admitted  him  to  examination,  in  ordr  to  his 
Regular  Introduction  to  the  Preaching  of  the  Gosp1.  And 
upon  a  proper  Examination  Respecting  his  Moral  Character, 
his  Learning,  his  Orthodoxy  in  the  Doctrines  of  the  Gosple, 
and  Christian  Experience  in  Religion,  are  Well  Satisfied  as 
to  his  qualifications  for  or  Entrance  upon  ye  Gosple  Ministry, 
and  can  very  freely  recommend  him  to  y6  churches  and 
People  of  God  as  a  Suitable  Person  to  preach  the  Gosple, 
wheresoever  he  shall  by  ye  Providence  of  God  be  calld. 

JOSEPH  DORR, 
NATHAN  WEBB, 
AMARIAH  FROST, 
ELISHA  FISH. 
Mendon,  Novr.  i/r8,  1751. 

TIME   OF   MEETINGS. 

THE  meetings  of  the  Association  were  held  at  irregular 
intervals  for  several  years,  gradually  settling  into  some  sys 
tem,  until,  at  the  close  of  the  Revolution,  June  and  October 
became  the  months  of  regular  meeting.  For  the  first  five 
years  the  meetings  were  held  at  Rev.  Mr.  Dorr's,  the  senior 
member,  and  standing  moderator.  During  this  period  Rev. 
Mr.  Webb  was  scribe.  As  other  members  joined,  each  had 
the  meeting  in  rotation.  But  the  officers  continued  un 
changed  for  a  long  time.  The  first  Tuesday  in  June  and 
October  continued  to  be  the  regular  time  of  meeting,  until 


OFFICERS.  43 

October,  1821,  when  the  third  Tuesday  of  the  above  months 
was  selected.  In  1824,  October  19th,  the  last  Tuesdays  in 
April  and  October  were  adopted.  Again  in  1831,  April  26th, 
it  was  voted  that  an  additional  meeting  be  annually  held 
upon  the  third  Tuesday  in  August.  In  1841,  August  17th, 
the  third  Tuesday  was  reselected  for  the  regular  meetings. 
Finally  in  1844,  December  17th,  voted,  that  "  our  future  meet 
ings  be  on  the  second  Tuesday  of  the  month."  These  fre 
quent  changes  have  been  rendered  necessary  by  the  increase 
of  other  and  more  general  religious  meetings. 

There  are  records  of  two  hundred  and  fourteen  regular 
and  occasional  meetings  of  the  body. 

OFFICERS. 

For  many  years  Rev.  Mr.  Dorr  was  standing  moderator 
of  the  Association.  After  his  death,  Rev.  David  Hall,  D.  D. 
of  Sutton,  succeeded  him.  In  1783,  it  was  determined  that 
the  senior  member  present  at  each  meeting  should  preside, 
and  that  the  host  of  the  Association  should  act  as  scribe. 
Under  this  rule,  the  following  members  became  virtually 
standing  moderators,  namely,  Rev.  Messrs.  Elisha  Fish, 
Amariah  Frost,  David  Sanford,  and  Nathaniel  Emmons, 
D.  D.  Dr.  Emmons  presided  over  the  deliberations  of  the 
Association  for  nearly  twenty-five  years,  and  was  seldom 
absent  from  any  of  its  meetings.  In  1841,  April  27th,  Rev. 
Elisha  Fish  was  elected  as  moderator,  and  continued  until 
January,  1851,  the  time  of  his  decease.  The  moderator  is 
now  chosen  annually  in  April. 

The  first  arrangement  respecting  a  scribe  was  found  to  be 
defective,  and  a  standing  scribe  was  chosen.     The  following 
is  a  list  of  the  scribes,  with  the  dates  of  their  election. 
Rev.  John  Crane,  chosen  12  October,  1802 ; 

"    Timothy  Dickinson,  chosen  9  June,  1812  ; 

"    David  Long,  chosen  12  October,  1813 ; 


44  HISTORICAL    APPENDIX. 

Rev.  Elam  Smalley,  chosen  16  August,  1831  ; 
"    David  Sanford,  chosen  30  April,  1839  ; 
"    T.  D.  P.  Stone,  chosen  11  August,  1846  ; 
"    Tyler  Thatcher,  chosen  17  August,  1847  ; 
«    Thomas  T.  Richmond,  chosen  8  October,  1850. 

BUSINESS. 

THE  regular  exercises  at  Associational  meetings  have 
varied  at  different  dates,  according  to  the  number  of  members 
and  apparent  state  of  religion.  The  fragmentary  scraps  of 
the  first  quarter  of  the  century  give  us  no  information  of  the 
business  of  its  meetings,  other  than  the  preacher  of  the 
public  lecture,  and  the  occasional  examination  of  candidates 
for  the  Gospel  ministry.  We  naturally  infer  it  to  be  the 
discussion  of  such  questions  as  the  times  made  important  and 
prominent.  It  is  not  until  1794,  that  any  of  these  questions 
are  recorded.  Then,  "  14  October,  1794,  it  was  voted  that 
each  member  should  write  upon  the  following  question,  and 
read  at  the  next  meeting :  i  Whether  or  not,  there  be  any 
proof,  the  Bible  being  excepted,  that  there  is  another  state 
of  existence  for  men  ?  " 

Nothing  more  is  said  of  questions  for  thirteen  years.  We 
may  infer  that  the  plan  of  written  discussions  did  not  succeed, 
for  the  following  year  it  was  agreed  that  each  member  should 
read  a  sermon  in  rotation  for  general  criticism.  Still  another 
change  was  made  in  1797,  by  substituting  a  Concio  ad  Cle- 
rum  by  one  of  the  members.  This  was  shortly  abandoned, 
and  no  substitute  adopted  until  1807,  June  9th  ;  when  a  com 
mittee,  chosen  for  the  purpose,  proposed  a  plan,  —  which 
was  adopted,  and  has  been  followed,  with  slight  additions,  to 
the  present  time,  — "  That  at  every  meeting,  one  text  of 
Scripture  should  be  explained,  and  two  questions  be  discus 
sed,  if  there  be  time.  And  that  each  member  shall  present 


STANDING     REGULATIONS.  45 

a  text  of  Scripture  for  explanation,  or  a  question  for  discus 
sion,  from  which  the  Association  shall  make  a  selection." 

The  additions  to  this  plan  have  been,  the  reading  of  a 
sermon  for  criticism  by  the  minister  at  whose  house  the 
Association  meet,  —  adopted  18  August,  1835.  And  the 
presentation  of  the  skeleton  of  a  sermon  by  some  designated 
member,  —  adopted  20  August,  1844.  Other  additions  have 
been  temporarily  made. 

The  following  digest  of  the  regulations  of  this  body,  now 
in  force,  may  be  here  conveniently  added :  — 

STANDING  REGULATIONS    OF   MENDON  ASSOCIATION. 

1.  The  meetings  shall  be  held  on  the  second  Tuesday  in 
April,  August,  October,  and  January,  at  three  o'clock,  p.  M. 

2.  The  Moderator  shall  be  chosen  by  ballot  annually  at 
the  April  meeting.     The  Scribe  shall  serve  until  his  resigna 
tion.     He  is  also  Librarian  of  the  Association.* 

3.  The   regular    business   of  each   meeting  shall   be :  — 
Prayer  by  the  Moderator ;  reading  the  minutes  of  the  last 
meeting ;  sermon  for  criticism  by  the  host  of  Association ; 

*  The  Library  of  the  Association  has  consisted  of  records,  docu 
ments  on  file,  and  a  few  volumes  presented,  some  by  Harvard  Uni 
versity,  some  by  members.  At  the  regular  meeting  in  August,  1852,  it 
was  unanimously  voted  to  attempt  a  complete  collection  of  all  the  printed 
works  of  the  past  and  present  Members  and  Licentiates  of  the  body,  and  also 
an  autograph  sermon  of  each  Member  and  Licentiate,  ivith  an  autobiography 
appended,  as  far  as  they  can  be  obtained.  Rev.  Charles  Simmons,  of 
North  Wrentham.  was  designated  to  the  charge  of  this  collection  and 
authorized  to  solicit,  in  behalf  of  the  Association,  donations  of  the  pub 
lications,  and  a  MS.  sermon  of  Members  and  Licentiates,  from  them 
selves  or  their  surviving  friends.  It  is  hoped  that  the  public  value  of 
such  a  collection  will  secure  the  complete  execution  of  the  plan. 
Occasional  sermons,  pamphlets,  etc.,  and  the  more  important  bound 
volumes,  upon  every  subject  pertaining  to  religion,  will  be  gratefully 
received  from  their  authors  and  publishers. 


46  HISTORICAL    APPENDIX. 

written  exegesis  of  a  portion  of  the  Scriptures ;  written  essay 
upon  an  assigned  theme ;  oral  discussion  of  a  previously 
selected  question  ;  a  written  skeleton  of  a  sermon  for  criti 
cism  ;  an  hour  of  devotional  exercises  ;  and  a  season  of  public 
worship. 

4.  The  examination  of  candidates  for  approbation  to  preach 
the  Gospel  will  commence  with  reading  a  sermon.     Their 
examination  takes  the  precedence  of  all  other  business. 

5.  The  place  of  meeting  and  the  preacher  shall  be  ap 
pointed  in  rotation. 

6.  The  schedules  for  the  General  Association  of  the  State 
shall  be  forwarded  to  the  delegates  before  the  first  of  Febru 
ary,  and  their  report  of  the  Association  shall  be  presented  to 
this  body  at  the  April  meeting. 

7.  When   any  member  of  this  Association  is    dismissed 
from  his  people,  and  leaves  the  ministry  for  more  than  one 
year,  we  shall  not  consider  him  a  member  of  this  body. 

DOINGS    OF   THE   ASSOCIATION. 

THE  records  of  a  ministerial  association  cannot  furnish 
many  striking  historical  facts,  formed  as  it  is  for  professional 
and  private  deliberations,  whose  results  appear  only  in  indi 
vidual  benefit.  Yet  the  questions  discussed  and  resolves 
passed,  connected  with  their  dates,  may  give  some  light  to 
the  past  state  of  religion.  We  can  thus  learn  what  aspects 
of  truth  occupied  attention,  and  may  sometimes  trace  impor 
tant  movements  to  their  source  in  some  passing  discussion  or 
brief  resolution. 

The  data  furnished  by  our  records  for  conclusions  of  this 
sort,  are  here  given  for  this  use,  grouped  by  their  affinities, 
such  as  they  have. 


DRAFT     FOR    CONSOCIATION.  47 


CONSOCIATION    OF    CHURCHES. 

THE  first  intimation  of  this  subject,  found  in  the  few  loose 
documents  of  the  period,  is  a  draft  of  principles  and  rules  for 
a  consociation,  adopted  by  the  Association,  and  dated  Button, 
17  November,  1756.  Some  additions  were  made  at  the 
meetings  in  1757,  and  then  the  subject  appears  to  have  been 
dropped.  The  churches  probably  declined  to  enter  into  the 
proposal,  as  no  vote  of  adoption  occurs  in  the  records  of  the 
churches  which  have  been  examined. 

This  draft  is  copied  here,  as  an  interesting  digest,  in  the 
working  form,  of  the  principles  suggested  by  the  Synod 
of  1662. 

DRAFT    FOR   A    CONSOCIATION,   PROPOSED    1756. 


To  the  several  Fraternities  of  the  churches  of  Christ  in 
Mendon,  the  first  church  of  Sutton,  the  church  of  Uxbridge, 
the  church  of  Upton,  the  church  of  Medway  Precinct :  — 
The  Pastors  of  said  churches  send  Greeting,  Wishing  to 
them  Grace,  Mercy  and  Peace,  from  God  our  Father  and 
from  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  Dearly  Beloved  Brethren  in 
Christ : 

Whearas,  the  churches  of  Christ  rightly  constituted,  ac 
cording  to  the  Word  of  God  ;  are  to  be  considered  as  standing 
in  a  Sisterly  Relation  to  each  other,  (Cant.  8 :  8,)  being 
united  in  the  same  faith  and  order,  (Eph.  4 :  4,)  walking  by 
the  same  Rule,  in  the  use  of  the  same  Ordinances,  for  the 
same  Ends,  under  one  and  the  same  Political  Head,  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  Head  over  all  things  to  the  church  of  God ; 
There  must  needs,  from  this  their  Relation  to  and  Union  one 
with  another,  be  Inferred  their  Duty  of  Communion  one  with 
another,  suitable  to  that  union  and  relation  ;  Which  commu 
nion  of  churches,  according  to  the  Definition  Given  of  it,  by 


48  HISTORICAL     APPENDIX. 

a  Venerable  Synod  of  these  churches,  Is  the  Faithful  Im 
provement  of  the  Gifts  of  Christ,  Bestowed  upon  [them]  for 
his  Service  and  Glory,  and  their  Mutual  Good  and  Edifica 
tion,  according  to  capacity  and  opportunity.  And  further, 
whereas  there  hath  constantly  been  in  the  churches,  a  Pro 
fession  of  Communion  of  Churches,  one  with  another,  in 
Giving  the  right  hand  of  Fellowship  at  the  Gathering  of 
Churches  and  Ordination  of  Elders ;  which  import  a  Con 
sociation,  and  obligeth  to  the  Practice  thereof. 

We  doe  therefore  most  earnestly  call  upon  the  churches 
under  our  Pastoral  care,  and  advise  them  to  come  into  a 
Mutual  and  Solemn  Agreement,  to  exercise  Communion  In 
and  by  such  acts  of  Communion  as  are  mentioned  in  the 
Result  of  the  Synod,  Held  by  the  Elders  and  Messengers  of 
the  churches  of  the  Massachusetts  Province,  contained  in  the 
Platform  of  Church  Discipline,  ANNO  DOMINI  1648,  and  in 
the  Result  of  the  Synod  of  the  same  Province  in  1662,  so 
far  as  they  are  agreeable  to  the  Word  of  God,  and  more 
Especially  in  the  following  Mentioned  acts  :  — 

1.  By  an  hearty  careing  for  one  another's  wellfare,  and  by 
Earnest  and  fervent  Prayer  one  for  another.     (Cant.  8 :  8. 
Ps.  122  :  6,  7,  8,  9.) 

2.  By   Admitting   to   occasional   communion  in    Sealing 
Ordinances,  such  members  of  any  Particular  church  in  our 
Consociation,  upon  satisfying  and  sufficient  Testimonials,  of 
their  regular  standing  in  said  church,  when  there  shall  be  no 
weighty  Objection  to  Barr  their  Communion. 

3.  By   Admitting  to   settled  and   stated   Communion  in 
Seals,  and  Censures,  as  there  shall  be  Occasion,  such  Mem 
bers  of  any  one  of  our  Consociated  Churches,  as  shall  be 
regularly  dismissed  to  our   Stated   Communion ;  Provided, 
there  shall  be  no  Sufficient  Barr  put  in  against  the  member 
or  members  so  Dismissed. 

4.  When  any  sufficient  Number  of  the  Members  of  our' 
Consociated  Churches  having  a  regular   Standing   in   the 


CONSOCIATION    OF    CHURCHES.  49 

churches,  shall  be  about  to  Embodie  in  a  church,  for  the 
Enjoyment  of  Gospel  Ordinances  among  themselves,  They 
Procedeing  according  to  Gospel  order,  and  Desireing  our 
Presence,  and  Assistance  in  so  Good  a  work  :  we  shall  be 
ready  to  Assist  them,  and  to  hold  forth  to  them  the  Right 
hand  of  Fellowship. 

5.  For  the  preserving  of  Peace  and  Unity ;  by  giving  an 
account  one  to  another  of  our  Publick  Actions,  when  it  is 
orderly  Desired,  In  order  to  our  Strengthening  one  another, 
in  our  Regular  Administrations,  Especially  by  our  concurrent 
Testimony  against  Persons  justly  censured. 

6.  By  Seeking  and  accepting  of  Help,  and  Good  Advice 
when  Given,  and  by  Affording  our  Help,  best  Counsel,  and 
Advice,  to  each  other  when  the  case  shall  require  it.     More 
Especially  in  the  four  following  cases.    1.  In  case  of  Divi 
sions  and  contentions,  when  the  Peace  of  any  of  the  Conso- 
ciated  Churches  is  Disturbed,  (Acts  15  :  2.)     2.  In  cases  of 
more  than  ordinary  Importance ;    as  the   Ordination   and 
Deposition  of  Elders,  and  the  like.     3.  In  case  of  Difficult 
Questions  and  Controversies  that  may  arise,  (Acts  15  :  2.) 
4.  In  case  That  in  any  one  of  our  Consociated  Churches 
there  should  subsist  Mall-administrations,  Errors,  or  Offences 
that  remain  unhealed,  we  will  be  ready  to  Afford  and  receive 
help  one  from  another,  for  the  Healing  and  removing  such 
Offences,  and  for  the  Rectifying  such  Administrations. 

7.  By  Admonishing  One  Another  when  there  shall  be 
need  and  sufficient  Reason  for  it,  Especially  in  such  a  case 
as  Mall- Administrations,  Errors,  and  Scandals  shall  continue 
to  subsist  in  a  particular  church,  after  Good  Advice  given  ; 
and  if  after  a  first  Admonition  administered  by  a   Parti 
cular  church  of  the  Consociation,  and  a  second  Admonition 
Dispensed    by   a   superior    Number    of   the    Consociated 
Churches,  the  said  offending  church  shall  remain,  We  will 
then,  if  the  whole  Number  of  the  Consociated  Churches,  or 
the  Majority  of  them  regularly  convened,  by  their  Pastors 

5 


50  HISTORICAL    APPENDIX. 

and  Delegates  in  council,  shall  Judge  necessary,  Precede  to 
the  Sentence  of  Non-communion  with  said  church  or  Peccant 
Party  Therein,  agreeable  to  what  is  Declared  in  the  loth 
chap,  of  the  Platform  of  Church  Dicipline,  Sec.  2,  Partic.  3d. 

POSTSCRIPT. 

To  Prevent  any  misunderstanding  of  the  Design  of  the 
Consociation  of  these  Churches,  or  of  the  true  Intent  and 
Meaning  of  any  one  of  the  above-Mentioned  acts  of  commu 
nion,  we  Declare  as  Followeth. 

1st.  That  Neither  the  above  scheme  in  General  nor  any 
one  of  the  acts  of  communion  in  'Particular,  is  so  to  be  under 
stood  in  the  least  to  Prejudice  the  Power  of  Government  in 
any  Particular  Congregational  Church,  for  we  apprehend 
according  to  the  first  Proposition  in  Answer  to  the  2nd 
Question  of  the  General  Synod  assembled  in  Boston,  1662, 
That  every  church  or  Particular  Congregation  of  Visible 
Saints  in  Gospel  order  being  furnished  with  a  Presbytery, 
at  Least  with  a  Teaching  Elder,  and  walking  together  in 
Truth  and  Peace,  hath  received  from  the  Lord  Jesus,  full 
Power  and  authority  Ecclesiastical,  within  itself,  Regularly 
to  administer  all  the  Ordinances  of  Christ,  and  is  not  under 
any  other  Ecclesiastical  Jurisdiction  whatsoever,  (Mat.  18  : 
17,  18.)  And  that  the  Consociation  of  Churches  is  not  to 
hinder  the  Exercise  of  this  Power,  but  by  counsel  from  the 
Word  of  God,  to  Direct  and  strengthen  the  same,  when  it 
may  be  Done  upon  Just  and  Sufficient  Reasons. 

2nd.  It  is  the  Proper  work  of  the  Pastors  and  Delegates 
of  the  Consoeiated  churches,  when  assembled  in  council,  to 
Debate  and  Determine  controversies  of  faith,  and  cases  of 
Conscience,  to  clear  and  Hold  forth  from  the  Word  of  God 
Holy  Directions,  for  the  Holy  Worship  of  God,  and  Good 
Government  of  the  Church,  and  to  bear  witness  against 
mall-administration  and  corruption  in  Doctrine  or  Manners, 


POSTSCRIPT.  51 

in  a  Particular  Church;  and  to  give  Directions  for  the 
Reformation  thereof,  but  not  to  administer  church  censures, 
in  a  way  of  Discipline,  to  the  Prejudice  of  the  Power  of 
Government,  or  Privilege,  of  any  Particular  Church. 

3d.  For  the  ascertaining  the  Rights  and  Powers  of  the 
Bretheren  in  the'  Ecclesiastical  council  when  convened,  it  is 
agreed  that  the  Power  of  the  order  of  Delegates  in  voting 
shall  be  full  equal,  to  that  of  the  Pastors,  And  that  the 
Majority  of  Delegates,  as  well  as  the  Majority  of  Pastors  or 
Elders  shall  be  Judged  Necessary  to  constitute  a  valid  act 
of  the  Council.  [And  that  the  Eldership  and  Delegates 
from  each  church,  be  they  one  or  more,  to  have  Equal  power 
with  othr  Churches  in  Every  act  of  the  Consociation.] 
Added  10  May,  1757. 

[1.  That  this  Association  in  their  Proposal  to  their  sev1 
chhs  of  Forming  into  a  Consociation,  would  be  understood 
as  having  in  View,  That  ye  Assemblie's  Catechism  and  N. 
England  Confession  of  Faith  be  regarded  as  Scriptural,  arid 
what  we  are  all  agreed  on  in  point  of  orthodoxy. 

2.  As  the  mutual  Edification  of  these  chhs,  (the  End  of 
the  Consociating,)  cannot  be  Expected  but  in  the  way  of 
Xtian  Liberty,  and  to  guard  agst  all  Lording  it  over 
God's  Heritage,  We  Propose  yl  in  case  any  Particular 
Consociated  chh  or  chhs  shall  in  Process  of  Time  apprehend 
their  Relation  wl  the  Consociation,  no  longer  to  their  Edi 
fication,  They  may  (Regularly  or  Formally  desireing  it)  be 
Dismissed,  or  otherwise,  their  Desires  being  thus  Signified, 
Dismiss  themselves.]  Added  20  Sept.  1757. 

N.  B.  It  is  Proposed  that  if  the  churches  manifest  their 
concurrence  by  vote  with  the  above  written  Proposal  for  a 
Consociation  of  Churches,  That  they  chuse  their  Delegates, 
to  stand  for  one  year  and  no  Longer,  and  so  annually,  and 
that  they  stand  ready  to  Repair  to  the  Place  that  shall  be 
appointed,  when  they  shall  be  notified  of  the  time  for  their 


52  HISTORICAL    APPENDIX. 

convening ;  and  when  the  said  Delegates  shall  be  Elected, 
that  the  Pastors  of  the  Several  churches  notify  the  Moderator 
of  Mendon  Association,  in  order  to  their  being  convened  and 
formed  into  Council. 

JOSEPH  DORR, 
DAVID  HALL, 
NATHAN  WEBB, 
AMARIAH  FROST, 
ELISHA  FISH, 
DAVID  THURSTON. 
Sutton,  Nov.  the  17,  1756,  at  a  Meeting 
of  the  Mendon  Association. 

!*+*•** 

Nothing  occurs  in  any  subsequent  records  in  relation  to 
consociation  of  churches.  The  subject  of  a  conference  of 
churches  has  been  often  up  for  consideration,  but  none  was 
ever  formed,  because  many  of  the  members  were  so  con 
nected  elsewhere. 

GENERAL   ASSOCIATION   OF   MASSACHUSETTS. 

THE  action  of  this  body  in  relation  to  the  General  Asso 
ciation  of  the  State,  may  be  next  alluded  to. 

A  communication  from  the  Brookfield  Association,  dated 
March  22,  1802,  was  received,  proposing  the  subject  of 
forming  a  State  Association,  and  inviting  correspondence. 
Whereon  it  was  "  voted,  8  June,  1802,  to  choose  a  committee 
to  repair  to  Northampton,  to  meet  the  committees  of  other 
Associations,  agreeably  to  proposals.  Rev.  David  Sanford 
and  Rev.  Samuel  Austin  were  chosen  as  committee."  Both 
these  gentlemen  attended  the  preliminary  meeting  at  North 
ampton,  July  7,  1802.  The  consideration  of  their  report 
was  deferred  from  October  1802,  until  October  1803,  when, 
"  the  minds  of  the  Association  being  taken,  whether  they 
will  accede  to  the  proposal  made  to  them,  and  send  two 


BENEVOLENT     SOCIETIES.  53 

delegates  to  the  convention  next  June,  the  vote  passed  in 
the  negative."     The  motion  of  Rev.  Dr.  Lyman  of  Hatfield 
in  the   Convention  of  Congregational   Ministers,  May  30, 
1804,  to  enlist  that  body  in  a  general  movement  to  the  same 
end,  and  which  was  by  vote  of  convention  referred  to  the 
district  associations,  was  also  rejected  by  this  Association. 
The  subject  again  came  up  in  1807,  by  a  letter  from  the  "1  6  i 
scribe  of  the  General  Association,  when  the  same  vote  of  /$ 
refusal  was  repeated.    So  the  matter  rested  until  April  1841,  l 
when  a  vote  of  union  was  passed.     The  reason  of  this  long 
hesitancy  may  be  found  mainly  in  the  following  sentiment, 
and  in  deference  to  him  who  uttered  it. 

"  Associationism  leads  to  Consociationism ;  Consociation- 
ism  leads  to  Presbyterianism ;  Presbyterianism  leads  to 
Episcopacy ;  Episcopacy  leads  to  Roman  Catholicism ;  and 
Roman  Catholicism  is  an  ultimate  fact." 

v 

BENEVOLENT   SOCIETIES. 

THE  attitude  of  the  Association  in  respect  to  other  public 
movements,  benevolent  organizations,  etc.,  will  be  best  shown 
by  the  various  resolves  passed  at  different  times.  Those  on 
record  are  given  in  the  order  of  the  dates  of  their  adoption. 
The  more  important  are  copied  verbatim. 

Nov.  17, 1756.  "  Upon. our  information  that  a  donation  given 
to  Bellingham  Church  is  alienated  to  another  use,  —  We  the 
Associated  Pastors  of  Mendon  Association,  Do  Judge,  that 
all  such  donations  for  sacred  use  ought  by  no  means  to  be  in 
such  manner  improved  as  to  give  just  scandal  to  any ;  but 
Rather,  considering  ye  dissolved  state  of  said  chh,  be  re- 
posited  in  y°  hands  of  ye  next  Heir  of  ye  Donor  to  be  in 
Reserve  :  and  for  ye  use  of  wh  it  was  originally  Designed 
wn  yr  shall  be  occasion. 

Oct.  2, 1792.  "  Voted,  as  the  opinion  of  this  Association, 
That  no  man  ought  to  be  approbated,  as  a  School-Master, 

5* 


54  HISTORICAL    APPENDIX. 

unless  he  promises  to  pray  in  his  school  every  day,  and  to 
teach  his  scholars  the  Assemblie's  Catechise  once  every 
week. 

Jan.  19,  1795.  Association  highly  approved  of  and 
adopted  "  Prest.  Edwards'  newly  revived  plan  for  a  general 
concert  in  prayer ; "  and  a  lengthy  letter,  expressive  of  their 
cordial  union,  was  addressed  to  Rev.  Walter  King. 

May  29,  1799.  A  proposition  from  the  Boston  Associa 
tion  for  a  convention  to  consider  the  increase  of  infidelity 
and  immorality,  —  approved,  and  three  delegates  chosen. 

June  13,  1809.  Association  agreed  "  to  catechise  the 
children  under  their  care,"  and  "  recommend  to  heads  of 
families,  in  their  respective  congregations  to  take  pains  to 
instruct  .their  children  in  the  use  of  the  Assembly's  Shorter 
Catechism."  The  same  vote  was  substantially  repeated  in 
1824 

Oct.  31,  1826,  «  Vo.ted  that  it  be  the  rule  of  this  Associa 
tion,  that  no  ardent  spirits  be  presented  at  their  meetings."* 

*  This  vote  was  passed  at  Seekonk,  on  the  suggestion  of  the  follow 
ing  incident. 

The  host  of  the  Association,  Rev.  J.  O.  Barney,  went  into  Provi 
dence  on  the  day  previous  to  the  meeting,  to  procure  the  due  assort 
ment  of  spirits  which  immemorial  usage  had  made  an  important  part 
of  his  preparation.  He  accomplished  his  errand,  and  at  sunset  com 
menced  his  return,  with  an  extra  choice  variety  of  liquors,  —  as  it  was 
his  first  meeting,  —  densely  packed  in  a  large  basket  in  the  back  of  his 
wagon.  As  he  was  abstractly  driving,  in  forgetful  haste  to  reach  home, 
the  loud  laughter  of  some  men  upon  the  staging  of  a  new  house  in  the 
outskirts  of  the  city,  broke  up  his  reverie,  and  suggested  to  him  the 
risk  of  such  unbecoming  speed.  Instantly  thinking  of  his  freight,  he 
looked  behind,  and  lo  !  fragmentary  jugs,  demijohns,  and  bottles,  were 
dancing  in  and  out  of  the  basket,  and  a  ruby  stream  of  wines,  brandies, 
and  cordials  was  allaying  the  excited  dust  of  the  pebbly  street !  What 
was  to  be  done  ?  Should  he  go  back  and  replenish,  or  take  it  as  a 
Providential  hint,  and  go  on  ?  The  late  hour  decided  him  to  proceed, 
and  state  the  calamity  to  the  venerable  body  when  they  assembled.  He 
did  so,  and  they  took  tJie  hint,  and  promptly  banished  the  side-board 


BENEVOLENT    SOCIETIES,  55 

In  1829,  votes  were  passed  commending  the  Massachu 
setts  Missionary  Society,  and  making  the  Association  an 
auxiliary. 

Aug.  16,  1831.  "Voted,  that  this  Association,  not  being 
an  ecclesiastical  body,  and  having  no  jurisdiction  over  the 
churches,  cannot  consistently  give  advice  to  any  church  or 
number  of  churches,  as  such,  in  relation  to  any  difficulties 
under  which  they  may  labor." 

April  28, 1835.  A  committee  on  the  conversion  of  Papists 
reported,  that  "  as  the  Romish  priesthood  have  almost  un 
bounded  influence  over  the  Catholic  population,  the  first 
thing  to  be  attempted  towards  their  conversion,  is  to  weaken 
this  powerful  influence  of  the  priests." 

Aug.  18,  1835.  Resolved,  —  "  That  the  members  of  this 
Association  feel  it  to  be  their  duty  to  act  as  agents  for  the 
benevolent  societies  of  the  day,  in  their  own  congregations  ; 
and  thus  to  do  what  they  can  to  relieve  these  societies  of  the 
necessity  of  sustaining  agents  to  plead  their  respective  causes 
within  their  bounds."  A  copy  was  transmitted  to  the 
secretaries  of  the  above-intended  societies. 

Nov.  21,  1837.  Voted,  "  That  every  member  of  the 
Association  feels  the  object  of  the  Seaman's  Friends'  Society 
to  be  important,  and  will  do  what  he  consistently  can  to  aid 
the  friends  of  said  Society." 

April  24,  1838.  Resolves  respecting  the  American  Peace 
Society. 

1.  Resolved, — That  this  Association  view  with  deep  con 
cern  the  prevalence  of  the  war  spirit  in  this  and  in  other 
lands,  and  deem  it  highly  important  to  pursue  all  judicious 
measures  to  check  and  eradicate  that  spirit. 

2.  Resolved,  —  That,   although   we  are  not   prepared    to 


from  their  meetings.  This  was  the  year  in  which  Dr.  Beecher  preached 
his  six  sermons  on  intemperance,  and  the  American  Temperance 
Society  was  organized. 


56  HISTORICAL    APPENDIX. 

deny  the  right  of  self-defence,  we  highly  approve  the  great 
object  of  the  American  Peace  Society,  to  discourage  war, 
and  promote  the  cause  of  Peace. 

3.  JResolved,  —  That  we  recommend  it  to  every  brother  in 
this  Association,  to  preach,  at  least  once  in  each  year,  on  this 
important  subject. 

Oct.  18,  1842.  Similar  resolves  were  passed  respecting 
the  Sabbath,  and  the  American  and  Foreign  Sabbath  Union. 

Dec.  19,  1843.  Was  passed  a  resolve  of  sympathy  and 
aid  for  the  Western  Reserve  College. 

March  18,  1845.  On  an  unfinished  report  of  a  committee 
on  Congregationalism,  appointed  at  Boston, __Maj,  1844, 
the  Association  adopted  the  following  result  of  their  deliber 
ations  :  — 

—  "  We  are  agreed  that  a  reassertion  of  the  principles  of 
the  Cambridge  Platform,  with  such  alterations  as  shall  adapt 
them  to  the  churches  of  the  present  age,  is  a  very  desirable 
object.  But  there  is,  as  it  seems  to  us,  a  real  discrepancy 
between  the  Report  and  the  Platform  in  respect  to  several 
very  important  principles.  For  instance,  in  proposing  to 
make  the  decision  of  ecclesiastical  councils  binding,  the 
Report  goes  beyond  the  Platform,  and  adopts  a  most  im 
portant  principle  which  is  not  recognized  in  that  instrument, 
and  which,  in  our  view,  is  entirely  inconsistent  with  its  most 
prominent  features.  The  Platform  admits  of  Lay-ordination, 
but  the  Report  proceeds  upon  the  principle  that  ordination 
is  exclusively  the  work  of  ministers. 

Though  we  believe  that$  as  a  general  thing,  it  is  best  that 
Ministers  should  ordain  Ministers,  and  this  they  can  in  all 
I    ordinary  cases  do,  even  if  the  right  belongs  to  the  church ; 
yet  we  think  it  important  that,  in  a  system  of  rules  for  the 
|      government  of  the  churches,  this  right  of  theirs  ought  to  be 
recognized,  as  it  is  in  the  platform.    If  the  churches  have 
a  right  in  all  cases  to  exclude  appeals  from  their  decisions  in 
reference  to  their  offending  members,  as  the  Report  admits ; 


BENEVOLENT    SOCIETIES.  57 

it  can  be  neither  duty  nor  good  policy  to  establish  a  perma 
nent  and  uniform  tribunal,  beyond  the  power  of  the  churches, 
which  shall  virtually  take  this  right  out  of  their  hands.  To 
constitute  by  agreement  a  tribunal,  to  which  every  member 
of  a  church  is  understood  to  have  the  right  of  appeal  from 
its  decisions  in  every  case,  and  to  make  the  decision  of  this 
tribunal  binding,  is  to  remove  the  power  of  discipline  from 
the  body  in  which  Christ  has  placed  it,  and  to  give  individ 
uals  a  power  which  Christ  never  gave  them.  If  the  church 
place  the  right  of  decision  in  respect  to  the  discipline  of  its 
own  members,  beyond  their  control,  they  are  liable  in  certain 
cases,  to  be  obliged  to  acquiesce  in  wrong  decisions  and  in 
decisions  which  they  know  to  be  wrong.  We  see  not  how 
this  is  consistent  with  the  responsibility  which  rests  upon 
them  as  the  depositaries  of  all  Ecclesiastical  power. 

A  minister  ought,  in  our  view,  always  to  be  a  member  I  ^ 
of  the  church  of  which  he  is  the  Pastor,  and,  like  other  mem 
bers,  subject  to  its  discipline  for  all  immorality,  crime  or  here-  ! 
sy.  We  think  his  own  church  is  a  suitable  body  to  try  him ; 
although  they  ought  as  a  general  thing  to  seek  that  instruction 
and  advice  in  so  important  matters  which  are  to  be  obtained 
from  an  Ecclesiastical  council.  We  do  not  think  that,  in  any 
case,  the  minister  has  the  power  of  suspending  the  action  of 
the  church,  in  opposition  to  the  will  of  the  majority.  It  is  his 
prerogative  to  decide  all  questions  of  order,  and  his  decision 
is  binding  until  an  appeal  is  taken  from  it  to  the  whole  body 
and  by  them  reversed.  We  are  happy  to  agree  with  the 
authors  of  the  Report  on  the  general  inutility  of  exparte 
councils.  We  think  they  do  more  hurt  than  good.  But  as 
we  do  not  consider  Ecclesiastical  councils,  when  called  to  act 
with  respect  to  the  affairs  of  a  particular  church,  a  judicial, 
but  only  an  advisory  body,  we  are  not  prepared  to  adopt,  in 
full,  the  language  of  the  Report  respecting  them.  We  ad 
mit  "  that  there  are  some  things  in  the  Platform  of  a  subor 
dinate  character  which  cannot  at  the  present  day  be  carried 


58  HISTORICAL     APPENDIX. 

into  practice,  and  some  defects  which  it  is  important  to  sup 
ply."  We  need  no  ruling  Elders  in  distinction  from  th  ose 
who  preach,  and  we  do  not  believe  that  the  Bible  makes'  any 
distinction  between  officers  of  this  class.  It  is  our  opinion 
that  the  rules  of  church  discipline,  found  in  the  eighteenth 
chapter  of  Matthew  are  applicable  to  public  as  well  as  pri 
vate  offenses.  If  this  be  not  a  direction  respecting  the  treat 
ment  of  public  offenses,  we  have  none  in  the  New  Testa 
ment  for  this  class.  Besides  any  offender,  whether  his  crime 
be  public  or  private,  is  more  likely  to  be  gained  by  being 
first  approached  in  a  private,  affectionate  manner,  than  he  is 
to  be  at  once  arraigned  before  the  whole  church,  and  made 
the  subject  of  public  censure.  In  the  process  of  dealing  with 
offenders  given  in  the  eighteenth  chapter  of  Matthew,  there 
is  a  display  of  Divine  Wisdom  so  obviously  adapted  to  touch 
the  feelings  of  the  human  heart,  and  win  over  a  fallen  brother, 
that  we  cannot  believe  its  advantages  were  designed  to  be 
confined  to  private  offenses  alone. 

We  believe  that  the  act  of  Excommunication  may,  for  pru 
dential  reasons,  be  occasionally  delayed  for  a  short  time  after 
the  offender  is  proved  guilty  of  an  offense  of  sufficient  mag 
nitude  to  cut  him  off  from  the  church  ;  and  that,  during  this 
delay,  it  would  be  improper  for  him  to  come  to  the  commun 
ion  ;  but  suspension,  as  a  punishment  to  be  inflicted  upon  a 
member,  or  as  the  final  act  of  the  church  in  any  case,  is  un 
known  in  the  scriptures,  and  obviously  unauthorized  by  the 
great  Head  of  the  body. — 

In  the  above  remarks,  we  express  to  you  the  views  of  a 
large  majority  of  our  association.  In  respect  to  some  of  the 
points  involved,  there  are  a  few  contrary  minds. 

April  8,  1845.     «  Resolved,  that  we  regard  slavery  in  the 

/*A/A'  Southern  States  as  a  great  sin  ;  a  violation  alike  of  the  great 

principles  and  the  spirit  of  Christianity,  and  that  it  becomes  us, 

as  members  of  the  same  great  Christian  family,  to  remonstrate 

with  our  brethren  at  the  South  in  regard  to  this  sin  of  op- 


HOME    MISSIONS.  59 

pression  : "  and  urge  that  the  General  Association  correspond 
with  Southern  Ecclesiastical  bodies  on  the  subject. 

Aug.  12,  1846.  Voted  "  that  the  Am.  Protestant  Society, 
aiming  as  it  does,  in  the  spirit  of  love,  to  convert  the  Roman 
ists  of  our  land  to  the  Gospel  of  Christ,  by  the  dissemination 
of  light  and  knowledge,  is  worthy  of  the  confidence,  prayer 
and  charities  of  Christian  benevolence." 

Jan.  12,  1847.  A  plan  of  action  was  adopted  respecting 
agencies  of  benevolent  associations  ;  according  to  which  the 
claims  of  the  various  benevolent  societies  were  placed  each 
under  the  special  care  of  one  of  the  members,  to  be  present 
ed  by  him  whenever  requested  within  the  bounds  of  this  body. 
The  plan  was  adopted  as  an  experiment  for  a  single  year. 
The  following  year  the  plan  was  dropped,  and  each  pastor 
was  left  to  adopt  his  own  arrangements. 

Aug.  13,  1851.  A  resolution  was  passed  condemning  the 
use  of  Tobacco  as  highly  pernicious. 

Some  other  votes  of  a  temporary  or  local  application,  have 
been  omitted  in  this  summary. 

HOME   MISSIONS. 

The  subject  of  Domestic  Missions  has  ever  had  a  strong 
hold  upon  the  sympathies  of  this  association :  and  not  without 
reason.  Of  the  little  group  of  FOUR  who  originated  the 
Mass.  Miss.  Society,  two  were  members  of  this  body.  Mrs. 
McFarland  notes  the  fact  in  these  words.  "  During  Election 
week  in  May  1799,  a  number  of  ministers  [Dr.  Spring,  Dr. 
Emmons,  Mr.  Sanford  and  Father  Niles,  as  they  called  him] 
came  to  my  mother's  and  requested  the  use  of  that  room  to 
consult  together  about  forming  the  Mass.  Missionary  Society. 
They  met  four  or  five  times  during  the  week,  and  then  re 
solved  to  form  the  Society."* 

#  Memoirs  of  Mrs.  McFarland,  p.  179. 


60  HISTORICAL    APPENDIX. 

Dr.  Emrnons,  then  in  the  strength  of  his  influence  at  home 
and  abroad,  was  the  first  President.  The  first  secretary,  Dr. 
Austin,  was  a  member  of  this  body.  Of  the  first  two  Mis 
sionaries  sent  out,  Jacob  Cram  was  its  Licentiate,  and  David 
Avery  a  member. 

In  1797,  two  years  before  the  existence  of  the  State  So 
ciety,  the  Association  virtually  resolved  itself  into  a  tempo 
rary  missionary  organization,  by  voting  to  supply  South  Men- 
don,  then  destitute, one  Sabbath  each, gratis.. 

Similar  votes  have  been  frequently  passed  in  respect  to 
other  destitute  parishes.  In  1800,  a  committee  examined 
"  the  religious  state  of  the  people  "  in  Cumberland,  Smithfield 
and  Patuxet,  R.  L,  and  the  association  voted  to  preach  once 
each  gratis  in  the  first  mentioned  place.  In  1805,  again 
preached  in  turn  in  South  Mendon.  In  1810,  Blackstone 
was  similarly  favored  with  pulpit  ministrations.  In  1824, 
committees  were  chosen  to  confer  with  the  Rhode  Island 
Domestic  Miss.  Soc'y,  and  with  the  people  of  Greenwich 
respecting  their  '  waste  places.'  In  1830,  the  church  in 
Canton  was  gratuitously  supplied. 


PUBLICATIONS. 

The  first  publication  issued  by  the  Mendon  Association,  of 
which  any  record  is  made,  —  and  the  largest  single  work  they, 
have  issued,  —  is  entitled  "  Evidences  of  Revealed  Religion." 

The  preliminary  steps  were  taken  at  a  meeting  of  the  As 
sociation  at  Holliston,  Oct.  11,  1796,  in  the  following  votes: 

I.  That  it  is  desirable  that  Mendon  Association  should 
publish  upon  the  Evidence  of  Divine  Revelation,  with  some 
strictures  upon  Deistical  writers. 

The  parts  were  assigned  as  follows  : 

I.  The  need  and  importance  of  a  Divine  Revelation.  By 
Rev.  John  Robinson,  of  Westboro. 


PUBLICATIONS.  61 

II.  The  Spirituality  of  the  Bible.     By  Rev.  David  San- 
ford  of  Medway. 

III.  Miracles.     By  Rev.  Nathaniel  Emmons  of  Franklin, 

IV.  Prophecies.     By  Rev.  Caleb  Alexander  of  Mendon. 

V.  Strictures   upon    Deistical   Writers.     By  Rev.    John 
Crane  of  Northbridge. 

At  an  adjourned  meeting,  Northbridge,  Jan.  10,  1797, 
the  parts  were  read  to  the  Association  :  and  it  was  voted  to 
issue  them  in  a  volume.  Each  member  in  favor  of  the  vote, 
shared  equally  in  the  expenses  and  profits  of  the  publica 
tion.  The  work  of  publishing  was  committed  to  Rev.  Messrs. 
Alexander,  Dickinson  and  Crane. 

A  Sermon  by  Rev.  Dr.  Emmons,  preached  before  the  As 
sociation  at  Upton,  Oct.  13, 1813,  was  published  by  vote  and 
at  the  expense  of  the  body.  Four  hundred  copies  were 
printed  and  circulated.  The  discourse  is  the  same  as  appears 
in  his  published  works,  Vol.  IV.,  Sermon  xxxiv.,  entitled 
«  The  Law  of  Paradise." 

A  sermon  by  Rev.  Nathaniel  Howe,  founded  upon  John  1  : 
31,  and  preached  before  the  Association  at  Foxboro',  Oct. 
5,  1819,  was  also  published  by  vote  of  the  Association. 

The  subject  of  issuing  a  monthly  periodical  was  introduced 
to  the  Association  at  their  meeting  in  Oct.  21,  1823,  by  a 
communication  from  Mr.  Barnum  Field,  Providence,  R.  I., 
then  publisher  of  "  The  Christian  Visitor."  A  committee  of 
conference  reported  upon  the  subject,  and  the  result  was  a 
vote  to  issue  a  prospectus  for  a  separate  magazine.  As  all 
the  members  did  not  second  this  movement,  or  wish  to  be 
involved  in  the  responsibility  of  such  an  undertaking,  the 
imprimatur  read  as  follows  :  "  The  Christian  Magazine ; 
By  members  of  Mendon  Association,"  rather  than,  "  By 
Mendon  Association."  Yet  the  agency  of  the  body  in  the 
existence  of  "  The  Christian  Magazine  "  extended  thus  far, 
that  they  voted  to  publish  it  and  chose  the  Editors.  The 
members  individually  contributed  to  its  columns  and  its  sub- 
6 


62  HISTORICAL     APPENDIX. 

scription  list  at  their  pleasure.  The  work  appeared  January, 
1824,  under  the  Editorial  Supervision  of  Rev.  Messrs.  J.  Ide, 
C.  Park,  and  E.  Fisk  :  and  was  continued  four  years,  extend 
ing  to  four  volumes. 

Several  tractates,  essays  and  biographic  notices  of  mem 
bers  read  before  the  Association  at  different  times,  have  been 
kindly  published  in  the  Boston  Recorder  and  New  England 
Puritan,  and  other  religious  papers.  These  articles  may 
be  regarded  as  generally  expressing  the  views  and  feelings 
of  the  body  upon  the  topics  so  presented. 

QUESTIONS    FOR  DISCUSSION. 

In  the  following  list  of  questions,  the  date  of  their  adop 
tion  for  discussion  is  added,  as  a  suggestive  guide  to  their  im 
portance.  Those  marked  with  an  asterisk  were  assigned  to 
some  one  member  to  write  upon.  The  remainder  were  dis 
cussed  orally. 
1794.  June  3d.  *  Whether  the  soul  after  death,  does  or  does 

not  sleep  during  the  intermediate  state  ? 
*  Whether  or  not  there  be  any  proof,  the  Bible  excepted, 

that  there  is  another  state  of  existence  for  man  ? 
1807.  June  9th.  Meaning  of  "  the  first  resurrection" — Rev. 
20 :  6.  Whether    there    be    sufficient  argument  to 
support  the  doctrine  of  the  intermediate  state  ? 
Oct.  13th.  Meaning  of  mens' being  rewarded  according 

to  their  works  ? 

1 809.  Jane  1 3th.  Is  it  lawful  in  any  case,  for  individuals  to 
withdraw  from    a  church    without   its  consent,  on 
account  of  corruption  in  doctrine  and  practice  ? 
What  is  the  ground  of  moral  obligation  ? 
Oct.  10th.  Whether  our  Saviour  returned  thanks  after 

eating  ? 

At  what  time  did  the  Jewish  dispensation  end,  and  the" 
Christian  dispensation  commence  ? 


QUESTIONS     FOR    DISCUSSION.  63 

1810.  June  12th.  Do  such  universal  promises  as  "  all  flesh 

shall  be  saved,"  and  "in  him  shall  all  the  families 
of  the  earth  be  blessed,"  etc.,  embrace  all  who  have 

,  lived  and  shall  live  in  time  to  come,  or  only  those 
who  are  to  live  on  the  earth  in  some  future  day  ? 

Is  it  proper,  under  any  existing  circumstances,  for 
congregational  ministers  to  baptize  by  immersion 
unbaptized  persons? 

Oct.  Sth.  Have  a  plurality  of  gods  been  worshipped  as 
gods,  or  as  inferior  deities  and  intercessors  between 
the  worshippers  and  the  Supreme  Being  ? 

Ought  churches  to  pay  any  regard  to  the  sentiments 
and  practices  of  other  churches  of  the  same  denomi 
nation,  in  dismissing  and  recommending  members  to 
their  communion  ? 

Will  the  first  and  third  persons  in  the  Trinity  ever  be 
visible  to  Saints  in  Heaven  ? 

1811.  June  llth.  Meaning  of  probation  in  this  world? 
May  God  reward  men  in  time,  and  punish  them  in 

eternity  for  the  same  actions  ? 

Oct.  Stk.  Meaning  of  '  the  sin  of  the  world '  which 
Christ  took  away,  and  how  did  he  take  it  away  ? 

"Why  is  the  punishment  of  the  finally  impenitent  end 
less? 

1812.  June  Sth.  In   what  does  the  righteousness  of   Christ 

consist  ? 

Oct.  loth.  Is  there  any  foundation  in  the  Scriptures 
for  the  formation  of  a  Consociation  of  churches,  as 
an  Ecclesiastical  body,  to  which  individual  churches 
may  appeal  for  a  final  decision  in  cases  of  discipline  ? 

Is  an  individual  member  belonging  to  a  church,  to  be 
censured  for  neglecting  the  communion,  who  pleads 
conscience  on  account  of  ill  treatment  which  in  his 
-  opinion  he  has  received  by  a  vote  of  the  church  ? 


64  HISTORICAL    APPENDIX, 

Does  the  Divine  Law  require  men  to  love  their  neigh 
bors  as  much  as  they  do  themselves  ? 

1813.  June  8th.  Was  Christ  the  Son  of  God  before  his  in 
carnation  1 

Is  there  any  foundation  in  the  Scriptures  for  the  use 
of  the  term  Infant  Baptism  ? 

Oct.  12th.  Is   there  any  foundation  in  the   Scriptures 
for  delegates  to  vote  in  the  ordination  of  a  minister  ? 

1815.  May  16th.  If  delegates  are  allowed  to  vote  with  res 

pect  to  the  ordination  of  ministers,  why  may  they 
not  consistently  assist  in  the  ordination? 
Do  ministers  ordain  ex  qfficio,  or  act  under  the  author 
ity  of  the  churches  exclusively  ? 
Oct.  10th.  Did  John  the  Baptist  require  a  profession 
of  repentance  and  faith  previous  to  his  administer 
ing  the  ordinance  of  baptism  ? 
~*"W  When  may  a  minister  be  said  to  have  left  the  ministry  ? 

1816.  June  llth.  What  obligations  are  Christians  under  to 

profess  religion  ? 
Oct.  8th.  *  What  authority  have  we  for  the  imposition 

of  hands  at  an  Installation  ? 
Is  there  Scriptural  authority  for  the  use  of  the  sword 

in  any  case  ? 

1817.  Oct.  7th.  Was  there  any  difference  between  the  church 

and  society  in  Corinth  ? 
How  long  a  period  will  the  Millennium  continue  ? 

1818.  June  2d.  What  was  the  design  of  John's  Baptism  ? 
*In   what  will  the    future    punishment  of  the  wicked 

consist  ? 

Oct.  Gth.  *  Import  of  the  fifth  petition  in  the  Lord's 
prayer  ? 

1819.  June  1st.  Is  it  agreeable  to  the  Scriptures  for  a  council 

to  ordain  a  candidate  as  pastor  of  a  parish  ? 
Did  the  Jewish  tythes  pay  the  expenses  of  civil  gov- 


QUESTIONS  FOR  DISCUSSION.      65 

ernment  as  well  as  of  religious  worship,  or  only  of 
the  latter  ? 

1821.  June  5th.  Did  the  Divine  nature  of  Christ  suffer  on 

the  cross  ? 
Is  true  faith  the  only  condition  of  salvation  ? 

1822.  Jime  ISth.  What  is  the  true  province   of  reason  in 

ascertaining  the  doctrines  of  revelation  ? 

Would  it  be  subservient  to  the  interests  of  religion  for 
the  Massachusetts  Convention  of  Ministers  to  dis 
cuss  and  decide  the   question,  What  constitutes  a  ,.% 
Christian  church  ? 

Oct.  loth.  Is  1  John  5  :  7  canonical,  or  an  interpo 
lation  ? 

To  what  must  the  ultimate  appeal  be  made  in  estab 
lishing  the  principles  of  interpretation  ? 

1823.  June  17th.  When  are  children  too  old  to  be  baptized 

on  account  of  the  faith  of  their  parents  ? 
Does    native   depravity    originate   from   a  privative 
cause  ? 

1824.  April  27th.  Meaning  of  Pilate's    question  to  Christ, 

"  What  is  truth  ?  " 

As  the  laws  of  this  State  permit  individuals  to  join 
any  ecclesiastical  society  which  they  choose,  ought 
our  churches  and  societies  to  make  any  exertions  to 
obtain  an  amendment  to  the  laws,  so  that  our 
parishes  may  have  the  power  of  refusing  such 
applicants  under  certain  circumstances  ? 

Ought  a  church  member  who  has  committed  a  public 
offence  worthy  of  discipline,  to  be  required  to  make 
a  confession  before  the  congregation  ? 

Oct.  ISth.  Is  the  agency  of  God  the  same  in  governing 
the  conduct  of  holy  and  unholy  creatures  ? 

Can  any  particular  method  of  ecclesiastical  govern 
ment  be  supported  from  the  Scriptures  ? 

1825.  April  26th.  Had  the  Apostles  and  primitive  Christians 

6* 


66  HISTORICAL    APPENDIX. 

uny  apprehension  that  the  end  of  the  world  was 
nigh  in  their  time  ? 

Have  the  ministers  of  Christ  received  authority  froin 
him  to  license  candidates,  and  to  ordain  them  to 
the  ministerial  work?  And  does  this  authority 
cease  with  the  ordination  ? 

Oct.  25th.  *  What  is  the  foundation  for  the  common 
arrangement  of  the  books  in  the  Bible  ? 

*  May  God  both  reward  and  punish  a  person  for  the 

same  conduct? 

1827.  April  2±th.  "  By  man  came  death,"  —  what  death  ? 

:*  What  motives  shall  be  used  to  induce  creatures  totally 
selfish,  to  embrace  the  Gospel  ? 

1828.  April  29th.  Did  our  Saviour  give  thanks  after  eating  ? 

*  What  is  the  penalty  of  the  divine  law  ? 

1829.  April  28th.  *  How  are  we  to  understand  those  pas 

sages  of  the  Scriptures  which  employ  the  term  fire 
in  reference  to  future  punishment  ? 

*  Is  there  any  rule  by  which  we  can  determine  what 

proportion  of  our  property  ought  to  be  devoted  to 
benevolent  and  religious  purposes  ? 

1830.  April  27th.  *  What  do  the  Scriptures  teach  concern 

ing  the  existence  and  agency  of  Devils  ? 

1831.  Aug.  16th.  *Are   there  any   means  of  regeneration 

appointed  in  the   Scriptures  to  be  used  by  unre- 
newed  sinners  ? 

Oct.  25th.  *  What  are  the  Scriptural  means  to  promote 
revivals  of  religion  ? 

1832.  April  2±th.  *  Can  man  act  independently  ? 

*  Is  it  necessary  to  the  moral  government  of  God  that 
there  be  a  penalty  to  the  divine  law  ?  If  so,  is  this 
penalty  -efficient  as  a  motive  to  induce  sinners  to 
obey  ? 

1833.  Aug.  20th.  What  is  the  Scriptural  process  of  church 

discipline  ? 


QUESTIONS    FOR    DISCUSSION.  67 

1833.  Oct.  29^.  *Is  it  necessary  that  a  complaint  entered 
against  a  brother  in  the  church  should  specify  all 
the  particular  acts  which  it  is  designed  to  prove 
against  him,  and  the  time  when  the  censurable  acts 
were  done  ? 

*  Did  Christ  in  the  garden  sweat  drops  of  real  blood  ? 
1835.  April  2Sth.     *  Are  believers  rewarded  on  the  same 

ground  on  which  they  are  forgiven  ? 

*  Is  it  expedient  for  ministers  to  exchange  labors  very 

frequently  ? 

What  is  the  best  method  of  constructing  a  sermon  ? 

Aug.  18th.  Is  the  modern  practice  of  settling  minis 
ters  for  a  limited  time,  beneficial  or  prejudicial  to 
the  interests  of  religion  ? 

*  Does  Romans*  vii.  ch.  describe  the  feelings  of  the  im-  - 

penitent  sinner,  or  of  the  Christian  ? 

*  Does  the  Holy   Spirit  renew  the  hearts   of  sinners 

without  the  use  of  means  ?     If  so,  what  is  the  evi 
dence  ?  if  not,  what  are  the  means  ? 
Oct.  28th.  *  Was  the  human  soul  of  Christ  saved  by 
grace,  or  was  he  admitted  into  heaven  on  account  of 
having  yielded  perfect  obedience  to  the  divine  law  ? 

*  Did  Christ,   in  making  atonement  for  sin,  suffer  in 

his  divine  nature  ? 

1837.  April  25th.  What  is  the  object  of  '  laying  on  of  hands,' 
at  ordination  ? 

*  Can  the  consistency  between  divine  and  human  agency 

in  the  moral  actions  of  men  be  seen  ? 

Aug.  15th.  *  Is  there  any  distinction  between  justifi 
cation  and  pardon  ? 

Nov.  2lst.  *  Meaning  of"  whom  he  did  foreknow  ?" 

*  What  are  we  to  understand  by  the  intercession  of  Christ, 

and  what  is  its  influence  in  the  salvation  of  men  ? 
Why,  previous  to  Christ,  was  transgression  followed, 
to  so  great  an  extent,  with  present  penalty  ? 


68  HISTORICAL     APPEXDIX. 

1838.  April  '2±th.  *  What  evidence  is  there  that  the  books 

contained  in  the  common  version  of  the  Bible,  are 
the  ones,  and  the  only  ones,  which  can  justly  claim 
to  be  inspired  ? 

1839.  April  30th.  What  is  the  meaning  of  sovereignty  when 

applied  to  God  ? 
Are  protracted  meetings  on  the  whole  a  good  measure 

for  promoting  religion  ? 
Oct.  29^/z.   Have  Christians,  in  any  case,  a  right  to 

defend  themselves  by  force  ? 

*  What  is  the  real  difference  between  Arminianism  and 

Calvinism  ? 

Is  it  desirable  that  our  churches  take  any  action 
respecting  communion  writh  slave-holders,  or  admit 
ting  them  to  the  pulpit  ? 

1840.  Aug.  ISth.  What  is  clerical  etiquette,  to  be  observed 

between  neighboring  ministers  ? 
A  man  is  a  member  of  the  church,  and  his  wife  is  not. 

He  died  before  his  child  is  baptized.     Is  that  child 

a   subject    of    baptism  ?     And    if    so,   who   is   to 

present  it  ? 
Oct.  27th.  Is  the  dedication  of  a  child  by  the  parents, 

an  essential  part  of  infant  baptism  ? 

*  What  is  the  doctrine  of  professed  modern  Perfection 

ism  ?  and  is  it  taught  in  the  Bible  ? 

1841.  April  27th.  *  Is  a  literal  return  of  the  Jews  to  Pales 

tine  predicted  in  the  Scriptures  ?  And  if  so,  what 
bearing  have  recent  events  in  the  East  upon  this 
subject  ? 

*  Is  the  exercise  of  love  or  any  other  affection  at  the 

direct  command  of  the  will  ? 
Oct.  IVth.  Is  any  exercise  of  Christian  affection  perfect 

in  its  character  ? 
Is  it  expedient  and  advisable  to  encourage  and  patron- 


QUESTIONS    FOR    DISCUSSION.  69 

ize  missionary  associations  formed  on  the  principle 
of  refusing  the  contributions  of  slave-holders  ? 

1842.  April  ISth.  *  What  relation  do  baptized  children  sus 

tain  to  the  church  ? 

*  Can  a  future  state  of  existence  be  proved  from  the 
Old  Testament  ? 

Oct.  18th.  *  Does  /3a.7rT%(a  mean  to  purify,  without  refer 
ence  to  the  mode  ? 

1843.  April  18th.  *  Do  the  Scriptures  teach  that  there  will 

be  a  millennium  of  peculiar  holiness  and  happiness 
upon  this  earth  ? 

Aug.  15th.  The  duty  of  the  church  toward  those  mem 
bers  who  neglect  the  ordinance  of  Infant  Baptism  ? 

Have  ministers  a  right  to  ordain  for  the  Gospel  minis-     /  to   \ 
try  independently  of  the  churches  ? 

Oct.  17th.  *  How  far  is  the  Cambridge  Platform  our 
rule  of  discipline  ? 

Dec.  19th.  How  far  ought  the  building  of  meeting 
houses  at  the  west  to  be  aided  by  the  churches  at 
the  east  ? 

What  advice  shall  a  pastor  give  to  the  members  of  his 
church  going  south,  respecting  their  communion 
with  slave-holding  churches  ? 

1844.  April  16th.  What  are  the  political  duties  of  pastors  at 

the  present  time  ? 

Aug.  20th.  Is  it  consistent  or  right  for  Congregational 
churches  to  admit  as  members  those  who  disbelieve 
in  infant  baptism  ? 

Oct.  15th.  *  Ought  capital  punishment  to  be  abolished  ? 

Dec.   17th.  What   course   of    proceeding   ought    our 

churches  to  take   with  those  members   who  have 

fallen   into  the   errors   and   irregularities  of  Mil- 

lerism  ? 

1815.  April  8th.  Is  it  right  for  a  man  to  marry  his  paternal 
half-brother's  daughter  ? 


70  HISTORICAL    APPENDIX. 

1845.  Aug.  12th.  What  is  odd-fellowship?  and  what  is  the 

duty  of  ministers  and  churches  in  reference  to  it? 
Oct.  llth.  *  Ought  slave-holding  to  be  treated  by  the 
churches  as  other  sins? 

*  What  is  the  Bible  view  of  infant  salvation  ? 

1846.  Jan.  loth.  *  Did  Christ  suffer  in  his  divine  nature  in 

making  atonement  for  sin  ? 

*  What  is  the  great  end  of  punishment  ? 

April  llth.  *  Does  God  experience  any  degree  of  suf 
fering  in  connection  with  his  perfect  happiness  ? 

Shall  the  basis  of  organization  of  the  General  Associ 
ation  be  so  modified  as  to  admit  of  a  lay  delegation  ? 

Aug.  llth.  *  Does  the  New  Testament  authorize  di 
vorce  for  any  other  reason  than  adultery  ?  Or,  if 
the  courts  grant  a  bill  of  divorce  for  other  reasons, 
has  the  party  which  obtains  a  bill,  a  moral  right  to 
marry  again  ? 

Is  God  necessarily  a  good  Being  ? 

Oct.  13th.  Why  cannot  a  member  of  a  church,  of  his 
own  accord,  leave  the  church  ? 

*  What  can  we  do  as  ministers  of  Christ  to  increase 
each  other's  usefulness  ? 

1847.  Jan.  12th.   *  Is    the   agency    of    God   universal   and 

particular  ? 

What  is  our  duty  towards  the  "  Evangelical  Alli 
ance  ?  " 

April  13th.  *  Is  there  a  succession  of  exercises  in  the 
Divine  Mind  ? 

Oct.  12th.  Ought  a  minister  to  be  a  member  of  his 
own  church  ? 

*  The  significance  and  use  of  infant  baptism? 

1848.  April  l'2th.   *  What   is    the    duty   of  ministers    and 

churches  in  relation  to  the  order  of  the  Sons  of 
Temperance  and  other  secret  societies  ? 
Aug.  22d.  Is   it   advisable    for    our    Congregational 


QUESTIONS    FOR    DISCUSSION.  71 

churches  so  to  alter  their  creeds  and  covenants  as 
to  admit  persons  as  members,  who  deny  that  infant 
baptism  is  a  Scriptural  rite  ? 

1848.  Oct.  lOrh.  *  Orthodoxy,  the  antagonist  of  superstition. 
Have  the  majority  of  a  church  the  right  to  contravene 

its  articles  of  faith  and  covenant,  to  accommodate 
individuals,  against  the  protest  of  a  minority  ? 

1849.  Jan.  Wi.  *  Was  Melchisedeck  a  divine  person  ? 

Is  it  advisable  to  continue  our  separate  county  organ 
izations  for  benevolent  purposes  ? 

April  10th.  *  Review  of"  Dr.  Smith  on  Infant  Salva 
tion." 

Aug.  lAth.  *  Is  sin  the  necessary  means  of  the  greatest 
good? 

Oct.  $th.  Is  it  right  for  a  Congregational  church  to 
dismiss  its  members,  and  recommend  them  to  a 
Methodist  church  ? 

1850.  Jan.  8th.  Is  there  any   specific   rule   by    which    the 

amount  of  our  Christian  charities,  or  pecuniary 
benefactions,  should  be  regulated  ? 

*  What  is  the  nature  of  the  unpardonable  sin  ? 

April  16th.  Is  an  individual  a  proper  subject  of  church 
discipline  who  removes  from  a  place  where  his 
property  remains,  and  where  the  Gospel  is  supported 
by  taxation,  and  who  i  signs  off'  from  the  parish,  in 
order  to  avoid  such  taxation  ? 

Should  a  pastor  leave  a  notice  to  be  read  by  an  ex 
change,  which  he  would  not  give  himself?  And  if 
so,  who  takes  the  responsibility  ? 

Is  the  prevalence  of  a  universal  language  during  the 
Millennium  predicted,  as  in  Zeph.  3:9? 

*  What  is  the  origin,  propriety,  and  true  signification  of 

the  benediction,  as  practised  in  Christian  assemblies  ? 
Aug.  13th.  Are  there  any  limitations  of  age  in  respect 
to  the  subjects  of  household  baptism  ? 


72  HISTORICAL     APPENDIX. 

1850.  *  Review  of  the  '  Conventional  Sermon  by  Prof.  E.  A. 

Park." 
Is  congregational  sitting  a  proper  posture  in  public 

prayer  ?     And  what  is  ministerial  duty  in  relation 

to  this  practice  ? 
Oct.  8th.  *The  duty  of  ministers  in  regard  to  'the 

Fugitive  Slave  Bill/  or  in  regard  to  the  fugitive 

who  in  distress  may  come  to  us  for  protection  ? 

1851.  Jan.  Hth.  *The  household  I'crsus  Socialism. 
*  History  of  the  doctrine  of  Imputation. 

April  15th.  Is  there  any  difference  between  common 
and  special  grace  ?  and,  if  any,  what  ? 

Aug.  13th.  *What  obedience  to  the  husband  do  the 
Scriptures  enjoin  on  the  wife,  and  what  authority 
do  they  give  the  husband  over  the  wife  ? 

TEXTS    OF    EXEGETICAL    ESSAYS. 

As  the  date  of  their  exhibition  is  of  no  consequence,  they 
are  arranged  in  their  order  of  occurrence  in  the  Bible. 

Gen.  1:1;  4:7;  1  :  27  ;  6:14.  Psalms,  15  :  5  ;  68  :  30; 
74:4.  Proverbs,  16:  7;  25:2.  Eccl.  7  :  29.  Isaiah,  23  :  18; 
42  :  19  ;  53  :  8;  with  Acts,  8  :  33  ;  66  :  22.  Ezekiel,  24  :  13  ; 
37 :  4.  Zephaniah,  3  :  9.  Matt.  6:10;  11:12;  12  :  43-5  ; 
16:  28;  19:14;  26:39.  Mark,  2:27-8.  Luke,  10:  18; 
11:9;  15:7;  18:8.  John,  1  :  1  ;  1  :  9  ;  14 :  21  ;  16 :  8  ; 
17:12;  19  :  11,  1.  c.  Acts,  3  :  21  ;  8  :  33  ;  with  Isa.  53  :  8. 
Eomans,  3:4;  5:  14;  5  :  19 ;  6  :  23  ;  7  :  14 ;  8  :  16  ;  8  : 
19-23  ;  9  :  3  ;  11  :  32.  I.  Corinthians,  3  :  23  ;  5  :  5  ;  11  :  3  ; 
15:29.  II.  Corinthians,  5  :  1.  Galatians,  4 :  22.  Ephe- 
sians,  6  :  4.  Philippians,  3  :  11-12.  II.  Thessalonians,  1 :  9. 
I.  Timothy,  5  :  8.  Hebrews,  2:11;  5:7;  13:17.  James, 
2:  10;  I.  Peter,  3:  19.  II.  Peter,  2:  1.  I.  John,  3:  9. 
Revelation,  20  :  4-6 ;  20  :  5. 


APPROBATION    OF    CANDIDATES.          73 
APPROBATION    OF    CANDIDATES    FOR    THE   MINISTRY. 

At  the  date  of  the  formation  of  this  Association,  the  prac 
tice  of  admitting  only  approved  candidates  to  the  sacred  desk, 
had  been  generally  adopted.  '  In  the  beginning  it  was  not  so.' 
The  brethren  of  the  church  at  Plymouth,  gave  leave  to  any  of 
their  number  to  '  prophesy, '  subject  to  the  regulation  of  the 
Elders  of  the  church,  who  thus  '  ruled  over '  them.  In  the 
Massachusetts  colony,  the  matter  of  '  prophesying'  early  occu 
pied  the  attention  of  the  court.  They  first  legislated  upon 
the  subject  of  the  pastoral  office. 

In  1651,  The  church  in  Maiden  was  fined  for  settling  a 
minister  without  icSnsuTtlng  the  neighboring  churches.  And 
in  1653,  the  court  forbade  the  settlement  of  Mr.  Powell  over 
the  second  or  north  church  in  Boston,  because  he  was  not  a 
learned  man.  An  order  was  also  passed  that  no  minister 
should  be  called  into  office  without  the  approbation  and  al 
lowance  of  some  of  the  magistrates  as  well  as  the  neighbor 
ing  churches.  A  similar  order  was  adopted  respecting  can 
didates  for  the  ministry. 

"1653,  May  18^.  Ordered  that  no  person  shall  begin  to  ; 
preach  or  prophesy  without  the  approbation  of  elders  belong-  / 
ing  to  the  four  next  churches  or  county  court." 

The  church  of  Woburn,  and  also  of  Salem,  remonstrated 
against  this  order,  on  the  ground  that  if  they,  the  churches, 
had  the  power  of_election  and  ordinationjrf  n^nistgrg^lkeyJtiad^ 
the  power  of  approbation  also.     1  Cor.  xiv.     The  order  was 
repealed.* 

In  certain  proposals,  assented  to  by  delegates  of  associations 
at  a  meeting  in  Boston  13th  Sept.  1705,  occur  the  follow- 
in  g  recommendation  :  "  That  the  Candidates  of  the  Ministry 
undergo  a  due  Tryal  by  some  one  or  other  of  the  associations 

*  See  this  interesting  petition  of  the  Woburn  church  in  Mass.  Hist 
Coll.  Scries  III.  Vol.  I,  p.  39. 

7 


74  HISTORICAL    APPENDIX. 

concerning  their  qualifications  for  the  Evangelical  Ministry : 
and  that  no  particular  Pastor  or  Congregation  Imploy  any  one 
in  occasional  preaching  who  has  not  been  recommended  by 
-1JL  testimonial  under  the  hands  of  some  association.''* 

On  this  proposition  Rev.  J.  Wise  of  Ipswich,  who  so  sar 
castically  reviewed  the  proposals,  makes  the  following  his 
torical  comment :  "  Their  degrees,  with  the  express  testimony 
of  the  college  (when  particularly  desired),  are  sufficient  tes 
timonials  of  their  learning  :  and  the  experience  of  their  other 
good  gifts  and  ministerial  qualifications,  obtained  by  converse 
and  their  occasional  preaching  has  been  the  chief  test  and 
tryal  of  our  candidates ;  and  by  these  methods  they  have  been 
approbated  in  order  to  settlement  in  office-trust :  and  this 
has  been  the  custom  of  the  country  and  churches  for  near 
fourscore  years,"*  —  that  is,  from  its  settlement. 
[The  practice,  however,  of  approbating  candidates  by  Cleri- 
/cal  Associations  obtained  almost  universally,  though  the  other 
proposals  of  the  meeting  above-mentioned  failed  of  adoption. 
In  the  Mendon  Association,  applicants  for  approbation  to 
preach  the  Gospel  have,  from  the  beginning,  been  subjected 
to  a  thorough  examination,  as  the  first  certificate  already 
inserted  witnesseth. 

The  mode  of  ascertaining  the  candidate's  qualifications  and 
ike  form  of  certifying  to  them  have  hardly  varied  during  the 
century. 

As  to  the  mode,  the  following  vote,  passed  June  7,  1785, 
expresses  the  present  practice.  u  Voted  that  for  the  future, 
when  any  gentleman  shall  offer  himself  to  this  body,  in  order 
for  recommendation  as  a  candidate  for  the  Gospel  Ministry, 
the  person  thus  offering  himself  shall  first  read  a  sermon  ; 
after  which,  secondly,  there  shall  be  a  particular  and  systematic 
examination  of  his  knowledge  in  Divinity,  and  acquaintance 


*  See  Wise's  Church's  Quarrel  Espoused  ;  and  Vindication  of  the 
government  of  the  N.  E.  Churches. 


FORM    OF   RECOMMENDATION.  75 

• 

with  experimental  religion  :  and  thirdly,  his  design  in  preach 
ing  the  Gospel." 

The  recommendation  of  convention  of  Congregational 
Ministers  at  Boston,  May  26, 1790,  met  the  cordial  approval 
of  Mendon  Association,  and  agreement  to  admit  none  into 
their  pulpits  to  preach,  except  such  as  had  been  examined 
and  regularly  approbated. 

Certificates  of  approbation,  at  first,  bore  the  signatures  of 
all  the  members  of  the  association  present.  In  1794  they 
were  authenticated  by  the  signatures  of  the  moderator  and 
scribe,  and  so  continue  to  be.  The  form  adopted  1802,  is 
the  latest  recorded,  and  is  still  in  use. 

FORM    OF  RECOMMENDATION   OF   CANDIDATES    FOR 
THE    MINISTRY. 

At  a  meeting  of  Mendon  Association  at  the  house  of  Rev. 


,  in ,  on  the  ,  Mr. appeared,  and 

requested  to  be  recommended  by  the  association  to  the 
churches  as  a  preacher  of  the  Gospel,  and  a  candidate  for 
the  Christian  Ministry.  The  association  received  authentic 
testimonials  of  his  regular  membership  in  the  church  of 
Christ,  and  of  his  having  honorably  completed  a  course  of 
academic  education.  They  examined  him  with  respect  to 
his  views  and  feelings  in  contemplating  to  undertake  this 
work,  his  attainments  in  the  knowledge  of  the  leading  doc 
trines  of  Christianity,  and  his  personal  qualifications  to  per 
form  the  duties  which  will  devolve  upon  him.  Finding  him  in 
these  several  respects  a  person  qualified,  the  association 
deemed  it  expedient  to  comply  with  his  request :  and  do 

thereupon,-  by  these  presents,  recommend  the  said  Mr. 

-  to  the  churches,  to  be  employed  by  them  as  a  candidate 
for  the  Gospel  Ministry,  and  to  the  patronage  of  the  pastors  of 
the  churches,  for- this  purpose. 

Moderator. 

Scribe. 


76  HISTORICAL    APPENDIX 


LICENTIATES. 

LIST  of  persons  approbated  to  preach  the  Gospel,  with  the 
date  of  their  approbation.  The  numbers  refer  to  the  Bio 
graphic  Index.  Those  starred  became  members  of  the 
Association,  and  will  be  found,  by  the  numbers  in  parentheses 
at  the  end  of  the  name,  among  the  sketches  of  members. 

1.  *  David  Thurston,  Nov.  8,  1751,  (O.  S.)  (5.) 

2.  Moses  Taft,  Jan.  7,  1752,  (0.  S.) 

3.  Cornelius  Jones,  May  9,  1753. 

4.  Nathaniel  Potter,  May,  1754. 

5.  Joseph  Dorr,  jr.  Aug.  11,  1756. 

6.  Asaph  Rice,  Aug.  11,  1756. 

7.  Benjamin  Caryl,  Sept,  8,  1761. 

8.  *  Ebenezer  Chaplin,  June  4,  1764.  (9.) 

9.  Ezekiel  Emerson,  June  5,  1764. 

10.  Silas  Biglow,  July  9,  1766. 

11.  Alexander  Thayer,  June  28,  1768. 

12.  Josiah  Reed,  June  3,  1777. 

13.  Elisha  Fish,  jr.,  Oct.  30,  1781. 

14.  Moses  Warren,  June  7,  1785. 

15.  Jacob  Cram,  June  7,  1785. 

16.  Solomon  Aikin,  June  7,  1785. 

17.  Enoch  Pond,  Oct.  3,  1786. 

18.  Walter  Harris,  June  17,  1788. 

19.  Reed  Paige,  June  2, 1789. 

20.  Elias  Dudley,  June  2,  1789. 

21.  Herman  Daggett,  Oct.  7,  1789. 

22.  Royal  Tyler,  Oct.  7,  1789. 

23.  Josiah  Holbrook,  Oct.  5,  1790. 

24.  Holloway  Fish,  Oct.  4,  1791. 

25.  John  Morse,  Feb.  14,  1792. 

26.  *  Samuel  Judson,  June  5, 1792.  (22.) 

27.  Nathaniel  Hall,  June  5,  1792. 


LICENTIATES.  77 

28.  John  Fitch,  June  5,  1792. 

29.  Eli  Smith,  Oct.  2,  1792. 

30.  William  Jackson,  June  4,  1793. 

31.  Kiah  Bailey,  June  3,  1794. 

32.  Abijah  Wines,  Jan.  13,  1795. 

33.  John  Smith,  Jan.  13,  1795. 

34.  Nathaniel  Ogden,  Oct.  14,  1795. 

35.  John  Bowers  Preston,  Oct.  14,  1795. 

36.  Joseph  Rowell,  June  12,  1798. 

37.  *  Nathan  Holman,  June  12, 1798.  (26.) 

38.  Drury  Fairbank,  Aug.  15,  1798. 

39.  Leonard  Worcester,  March  12,  1799. 

40.  Joseph  Emerson,  June  9,  1801. 

41.  Nathan  Waldo,  jr.  Oct.  13,  1801. 

42.  Levi  Nelson,  June  9,  1802. 

43.  Joseph  Cheney,  Oct.  13,  1802. 

44.  Sherman  Johnson,  Oct.  11,  1803. 

45.  *  David  Holman,  jr.  Oct.  9,  1804.  (33.) 

46.  Gaius  Conant,  Oct.  9,  1804. 

47.  *  Daniel  Thomas,  Oct.  9,  1804.  (41.) 

48.  Stephen  Chapin,  Oct.  9,  1804. 

49.  Elnathan  Walker,  June  11,  1805. 

50.  Algernon  Sidney  Bailey,  Oct.  14,  1806. 

51.  *  Samuel  Wood  Colburn,  Oct.  11,  1808.  (35.) 

52.  Nathaniel  Rawson,  Jan.  10,  1809. 

53.  Isaac  Perkins  Lowe,  Jan.  10,  1809. 

54.  Martin  Moore,  June  10,  1812. 

55.  John  Burl  Wight,  Oct.  14,  1812. 

56.  *  Josephus  Wheaton,  June  14,  1814.  (38.) 

57.  Emerson  Paine,  June  14,  1814. 

58.  Enoch  Pond,  June  14,  1814. 

59.  *  Alvan  Cobb,  Oct.  11,  1814.  (37.) 

60.  Jonas  Perkins,  Oct.  11,  1814. 

61.  Stetson  Raymond,  Aug.  2,  1815. 

62.  Lot  Bumpas  Sullivan,  Aug.  2,  1815 

7* 


HISTOKICAL    APPENDIX. 

63.  Moses  Partridge,  June  11,  1816. 

64.  John  Luke  Parkhurst,  June  3,  1817. 

65.  Willard  Holbrook,  June  3,  1817. 

66.  Abel  Manning,  Feb.  9,  1818. 

67.  William  Tyler,  Oct.  6,  1818. 

68.  Jonathan  Longley,  June  1,  1819. 

69.  David  Brigham,  June  1,  1819. 

70.  Zolva  Whitmore,  Oct.  5,  1819. 

71.  *  Sewall  Harding,  Oct.  5,  1819.  (61.) 

72.  Silas  Shores,  June  6,  1820. 

73.  John  Milton  Putnam,  June  6,  1820. 

74.  George  Fisher,  Oct.  3,  1820. 

75.  *  John  Ferguson,  June  5,  1821.  (42.) 

76.  *  Moses  Thacher,  June  19,  1822.  (43.) 

77.  Augustus  Brown  Reed,  Oct.  15,  1822. 

78.  Levi  Packard,  Oct.  15,  1822. 

79.  *  James  Ormsbee  Barney,  June  17, 1823.  (44.) 

80.  Henry  Harrison  Fayette  Sweet,  Oct.  21,  1823. 

81.  *  Tyler  Thacher,  April  26,  1825.  (64.) 

82.  James  Tisdale,  Oct.  25,  1825. 

83.  Lucius  Watson  Clark,  Oct.  31,  1826. 

84.  Sylvester  Graham,  Oct.  31,  1826. 

85.  *  Charles  Jarvis  Warren,  Oct.  30,  1827.  (47.) 

86.  Cyrus  Whitman  Conant,  Oct.  30,  1827. 

87.  William  Harlow,  Oct.  30,  1827. 

88.  *Elam  Smalley,  Oct.  28,  1828.  (49.) 

89.  Gilbert  Fay,  Oct.  28,  1828. 

90.  John  Forbush,  Dec.  31,  1829. 

91.  Varnum  Noyes,  April  27,  1830. 

92.  Isaac  Erwin  Heaton,  Oct.  28,  1834. 

93.  Thomas  Edwards,  Aug.  16,  1836. 

94.  Eli  Thurston,  Aug.  16,  1836. 

95.  Charles  Turner  Torrey,  Oct.  25,  1836. 

96.  Elnathan  Davis,  Oct.  25,  1836. 

97.  John  Dwight,  Jan.  25,  1837. 


LICENTIATES.  79 


•; 


98.  *  Mortimer  Blake,  April  24,  1838.  (56.) 

99.  Edmund  Dowse,  April  24,  1838. 

100.  *  Charles  Chamberlain,  Aug.  21,  1838.  (75.) 

101.  *  Samuel  Hunt,  Aug.  21,  1838.  (76.) 

102.  *  Daniel  Jefferson  Poor,  Aug.  20,  1839.  (55.) 

103.  William  Phipps,  jr.  Aug.  20,  1839. 

104.  Jonathan  Grout,  April  28,  1840. 

105.  Joseph  Homes  Bailey,  Aug.  16,  1842. 

106.  *  Preston  Pond,  jr.  August  16,  1842.  (73.) 

107.  Richard  Cecil  Spofford,  Aug.  16,  1842. 

108.  Horace  Deane  Walker,  Oct.  18, 1842. 

109.  Abraham  Jenkins,  jr.  Aug.  15,  1843. 

110.  Edward  Pratt,  Dec,  19,  1843. 

111.  Malachi  Bullard,  jr.  Dec.  19,  1843. 

112.  Allen  Lincoln,  April  16,  1844. 

113.  William  Makepeace  Thayer,  Oct.  16,  1844. 

114.  James  M.  Bacon,  Dec.  17,  1844. 

115.  Josiah  Lyman  Armes,  Aug.  12,  1845. 

116.  Ezra  Newton,  jr.  April  14,  1846. 

117.  Hiram  Clark  Daniels,  Aug.  11,  1846. 

118.  John  Wheeler  Harding,  April  11,  1848. 

1 19.  Frederick  Augustus  Fiske,  Aug.  14,  1849. 

120.  Henry  Lobdell,  Aug.  13,  1851. 

121.  John  Edwin  Corey,  Nov.  19,  1851. 


MEMBERS. 

A  LIST  of  the  members  of  Mendon  Association,  with  the 
dates  of  their  admission  and  dismission.  Those  starred  died 
in  connection.  Those  marked  (|)  were  dismissed  on  re 
moval  elsewhere. 

1.  *  JOSEPH  DORK,        "] 

2.  *  NATHAN  WEBB,       I     Original  members,  Nov.  8, 

3.  *  AMARIAH  FROST,    \  1751,  O.  S. 

4.  *  ELISHA  FISH. 


80  HISTORICAL    APPENDIX. 

» 

"5.  f  David  Thurston,  admitted  May,  1754. 
G.  *  David  Hall,  D.  D. 

7.  t  Aaron  Hutchinson,  May  10,  1757. 

8.  f  Caleb  Barnum,  June  4,  1764. 

9.  *  Ebenezer  Chaplin,  Oct.  8,  17G5. 

10.  *  Isaac  Stone,  May  or  June,  1772. 

11.  *  David  Sanford, 

12.  *  Nathaniel  Emmons,  D.D.,  between  1773  and  1781. 

13.  *  Elijah  Fitch, 

14.  f  Josiah  Spaulding,  1772  ;  dismissed  1787. 

15.  t  John  Crane,  D.  D.,  Oct.  7,  1783  ;  dis.  Oct.  6,  18.18.* 

16.  t  David  Avery,  Oct.  3,  1786  ;  dis.  1796. 

17.  t  Caleb  Alexander,  Oct.  3,  1786  ;  dis.  1803. 

18.  *  Timothy  Dickinson,  June  1,  1790. 

19.  t  Edmund  Mills,  June  7,  1791  ;  dis.  Oct.  6,  1818.* 

20.  t  John  Robinson,  June  5,  1792  ;  dismissed  1815. 

21.  *  Nathaniel  Howe,  June  5,  1792. 

22.  t  Samuel  Judson,  Oct.  2,  1793  ;  dism.  Oct.  6, 1818.* 

23.  *  John  Wilder,  June  3,  1794. 

24.  f  Benjamin  Wood,  Oct.  11, 1797  ;  dism.  Oct.  6, 1818.* 

25.  *  John  Cleveland,  March  12, 1799. 

26.  t  Nathan  Holman,  Dec.  10,  1800 ;  dismissed  1825. 

27.  f  Otis  Thompson,  " 

28.  *  David  Long,  June  9,  1801. 

29.  *  Elisha  Fiske,  June  8,  1802. 

30.  t  Samuel  Austin,  D.  D.    «      ;  dismissed  1805. 

31.  f  William  Warren,  Oct.  9,  1804. 

32.  t  Preserved  Smith,  June  15,  1808  ;  dismissed,  1812. 

33.  f  David  Holman,  June  13, 1809  ;  dism.  Oct.  6, 1818.* 

34.  f  Elisha  Rock  wood,  Oct.  9,  1810.    "  "      « 

35.  f  Samuel  Wood  Colburn.      

36.  Jacob  Ide,  D.  D.,  May  16,  1815. 

37.  t  Alvan  Cobb,  «      «  ;  dism.  April  29, 1834. 

*  See  note,  at  the  end  of  this  list. 


LIST     OF    MEMBERS.  81 

38.  *  Josephus  Wheaton,  Oct.  8, 1816. 

39.  Thomas  Williams,  June  3, 1817;  dism.  Oct.  25, 1825; 

and  readmitted,  April  15,  1851. 

40.  *  Calvin  Park,  D.  D.,  June  5,  1821. 
4 l.f  Daniel  Thomas,  " 

42.  t  John  Ferguson,  June  18,  1822. 

43.  t  Moses  Timelier,  Oct.  21,  1823. 

44.  t  James  Ormsbee  Barney,  Oct.  19, 1824. 

45.  t  Willard  Pierce,  April  26,  1825. 

46.  t  Charles  Fitch,  April  25,  1826. 

47.  t  Charles  Jams  Warren,  Ap.  29, 1828  ;  dis.  Ap.  29, 

1834. 

48.  t  Preston  Cummings,  Oct.  28,  1828. 

49.  t  Elam  Smalley,  D.D.,  Oct.  27,1829;  dis.Aug.19,1840. 

50.  t  Amos  Augustus  Phelps,  Oct.  26,  1830. 

51.  t  Harrison  Greenough  Park,  Oct.  29,  1833. 

52.  t  Asahel  Bigelow,  Oct.  28,  1834;   dis.  Aug.  21,1838. 

53.  David  Sanford,  April  30,  1838. 

54.  t  Tertius  Dunning  Southworth,  Aug.  20,  1839  ;  dis. 

Oct.  8,1850. 

55.  Daniel  Jefferson  Poor,  April  28,  1840. 

56.  Mortimer  Blake,  Aug.  18,  1840. 

57.  f  Moses  Gill  Grosvenor,  Oct.  19,1841. 

58.  Thomas  T.  Richmond,  April  18,  1843. 

59.  Timothy  Dwight  Porter  Stone,  Aug.  15, 1843. 

60.  f  David  R.  Barnes,  "  " 

61.  Sewall  Harding,  Oct.  17,  1843. 

62.  Andrew  Hunter  Reed,     " 

63.  Horace  James,  Dec.  19,  1843. 

64.  t  Tyler  Thacher,  Aug.  20,  1844;  dis.  Oct.  8,  1850. 

65.  f  Smith  B.Goodenow,  Dec.17,1844 ;  dis.  Oct.12,1847. 

66.  Charles  Simmons,  April  18,  1843. 

67.  f  Calvin  White,  Aug.  12,  1845. 

68.  f  Oramel  W.  Cooley,  Aug.  22,  1848;  dism.  Nov.  19, 

1851. 


82  HISTORICAL   APPENDIX. 

69.  t  Henry  Lewis  Bullen,  April  12,  1848. 

70.  William  Barnes,  Oct.  10,  1848. 

71.  Joshua  Thomas  Tucker,  Aug.  14,  1849. 

72.  Preston  Pond,  jr.  Jan.  8,  1850. 

73.  George  Harrison  Newhall,  Oct.  8, 1850. 

74.  Charles  Chamberlain,  «          " 

75.  Samuel  Hunt,  Jan.  14,  1851. 

76.  John  Haskell,      "  " 

77.  Asa  Hixon,  April  15, 1851. 


NOTE.  In  1818,  Oct.  6th,  six  members  obtained  a  dismission,  for 
the  purpose  of  forming  another  Association.  Their  request  is  thus 
recorded : 

NORTIIBRIDGE,  OCT.  5,  1818. 
BRETHREN, 

We,  the  subscribers,  members  of  Mendon  Association,  wish, 
on  account  of  local  conveniences,  to  form  another  Association  by 
ourselves,  and  with  such  others  as  may  wish  to  unite  with  us ;  and 
ask,  that  the  body  with  which  we  are  now  connected  will  grant  us 
this  request. 

At  the  same  time,  we  wish  to  have  it  understood,  that  we  retain 
the  same  fraternal  affection  which  has  ever  subsisted  among  us. 
We  remain  yours,  brethren,  with  affection  and  esteem, 

JOHN  CRANE, 
EDMUND  MILLS, 
SAMUEL  JUDSON, 
BENJAMIN  WOOD, 
ELISHA  ROCKWOOD, 
DAVID  HOLMAN. 

Thus  and  then  originated  the  Harmony  Association. 


LIST    OF   TOWNS,    ETC. 


83 


LIST    OF    TOWNS, 

• 

Which  have  been  ministerially  connected  with  the  Mendon 
Association. 


Abington. 

Milford. 

Attleboro'. 

Milbury. 

"          East. 

Northbridge. 

Dedham,  South. 

Behobotk. 

Dighton. 

Seekonk. 

Douglas. 

Stoughton. 

Dover. 

Sutton. 

Foxboro'. 

Taunton,  West. 

Franklin. 

Upton. 

Grafton. 

Uxbridge. 

Holliston. 

Walpole. 

Ilopkinton. 

Westboro'. 

Mansfield. 

Worcester,  South. 

Medfield. 

Wrentham. 

Medway,  West. 

«             North. 

«         East. 

«         Village. 


Mendon. 


Total,  33. 


PRESENT    TERKITOKIAL    EXTENT. 


Dover. 
Foxboro'. 
Franklin. 
Holliston. 
Mansfield. 
Medfield. 
Medway,  West. 
«         East. 


Medway  Village. 

Mendon. 

Milford. 

Walpole. 

Wrentham. 

«  North. 


Total,  14. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES 


MEMBERS  OF    MENDON  ASSOCIATION. 


THE  authorities  for  these  sketches  are  the  Quarterly  Reg 
ister,  Hist,  and  Geneal.  Register,  Panoplist,  Mass.  Hist.  Col 
lections,  Ordination  and  Funeral  Sermons  in  the  Library  of 
Brown  University,  and  elsewhere,  newspaper  obituaries,  and 
an  extensive  correspondence  with  the  persons  themselves, 
or  their  successors  and  descendants.  For  this  last  valuable 
assistance,  the  compiler  would  here  express  his  acknowledg 
ments. 

He  has  taken  the  liberty  of  rearranging  articles,  when 
needful,  to  adapt  them  to  one  common  form.  Dates  are 
given  in  the  style  of  their  own  time  of  occurrence.  The 
sketches  are  as  complete  as  he  had  the  means  of  making 
them,  without  delaying  the  publication  of  the  work  too  long 
beyond  its  occasion.  And  he  would  take  this  opportunity  to 
request  any  corrections  or  additional  information,  which  may 
be  with  those  into  whose  hands  this  book  may  fall,  to  be  for 
warded  to  him,  to  be  placed  in  the  care  of  the  Association 
for  future  use.  Particularly,  genealogical  items  will  be  valu 
able. 

1.    REV.   JOSEPH  DORR, 

Was  the  youngest  son  except  one,  of  Rev.  Edward  and 
Elizabeth  Dorr,  and  was  born  in  Roxbury  about  1689.*  He 

*  Eer.  Edward  Dorr  had  the  following  children  :  1st.  Edward,  born 


REV.    JOSEPH   DORR.  85 

graduated  at  Harvard  1711,  and  received  the  degree  of  A.  M. 
in  course.  He  was  ordained  over  the  church  in  Mendon, 
25  Feb.  171 G,  and  continued  in  the  ministry  there  until  his 
death,  9  March,  1768,  aged  79. 

Mr.  Dorr's  predecessor  in  the  pastoral  office,  was  Rev. 
Grindal  Rawson,  (youngest  son  and  child  of  Edward  Rawson, 
the  famous  secretary  of  the  Massachusetts  Colony  from  1650 
to  1686,)  whose  daughter,  Mary,  he  married  9  April,  1724. 
Her  mother  was  Susanna,  daughter  of  Rev.  John  Wilson  of 
Medlield,  and  granddaughter  of  Rev.  John  Wilson,  the  first 
minister  of  Boston.  By  this  alliance  he  also  became  con 
nected  with  the  celebrated  John  Hooker,  and  Edmund  Grin 
dal,  the  renowned  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  of  the  reign  of 
Queen  Elizabeth.* 

Mendon  Association  certainly  had  good  Puritan  blood  in 
the  family  of  its  first  moderator. 
Mr.  Dorr's  children  were  : — 

1.  Mary,  b.  6  June,  1725,  the  wife  of  Rev.  Moses  Taft. 
(See  Licentiates,  No.  2.) 

2.  Joseph  Jr.,  b.  24  May,  1730.    (See  Licentiates,  No.  4.) 

3.  Katharine,  b.  8  March,  1732,  and  married  Rev.  Ezekiel 
Emerson.     (See  Licentiates,  No.  9.) 

4.  Susanna,  b.  4  Sept.,  1784,  and  married  Rev.  Amariah 
Frost.     [See  Members,  No.  3.] 

Mrs.  Dorr  was  born  22  June,  1699,  and  died  9  April,  1776, 
aged  77. 


Nov.  15,  1683.  2nd.  Ebenczer,  b.  25  Jan.,  1687.  3d.  Joseph,  b.  about 
1689,  or  90,  (birth  not  recorded.)  4th.  Edward,  b.  Oct.  19,  1692. 
Church  Records  of  Roxbury.  Of  the  father,  no  notice  has  been  found. 
He  is  not  mentioned  amongst  the  ministers  of  Roxbury  by  Farmer, 
and  yet  his  great  grandson.  E.  Frost,  M.  D.,  of  Mcriden,  N.  H.,  asserts 
him  to  be  a  clergyman.  Was  Edward,  the  minister  of  Hartford,  the 
maternal  uncle  of  Dr.  E.  D.  Griffin,  his  eldest  son,  and  did  the  title  of 
Rev.  belong  to  the  son  instead  of  the  father  ? 

*  Hist,  and  Geneal.  Register,  Vol.  Ill,  p.  201  and  310. 
8 


86  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

Rev.  Mr.  Dorr's  character  is  thus  summarily  expressed 
upon  his  tombstone.  "  He  was  endowed  with  good  sense. 
His  temper  was  mild  and  placid.  He  excelled  in  the  virtues 
of  meekness,  patience,  temperance,  sobriety,  gravity,  bene 
volence,  and  charity  ;  was  a  good  scholar,  a  learned  divine, 
and  exemplary  Christian." 

The  above  facts  are  all  which  an  extensive  inquiry  has 
elicited  respecting  the  projector  and  first  moderator  of  our 
Association.  That  he  sympathized  with  the  revival  of  1740, 
and  with  Edwardean  sentiments,  is  a  rational  inference  from 
the  fact  of  his  signature  to  the  "testimony"  in  favor  of  that 
work  of  grace.  The  ministerial  character  of  his  family 
argues  its  decided  piety  and  intelligence.  Nothing  is  known 
of  his  publications,  or  of  the  success  of  his  ministry. 

2.    REV.   NATHAN    WEBB 

Graduated  at  Harvard,  1725;  was  ordained  over  the 
church  in  Uxbridge,  3  February,  1731 ;  and  died  there  in 
the  pastoral  office,  14  March,  1772,  in  the  67th  year  of  his 
age,  and  41st  of  his  ministry.  He  was  consequently  born 
about  1707  ;  where,  it  has  not  been  ascertained.  He  married 
Elizabeth  (Pratt?) 

His  widow  subsequently  married,  November,  1773,  Isaac 
Coit,  Esq.,  a  very  respectable  citizen  of  Plainfield,  Ct.,  a 
widower  of  59,  and  without  children.  He  died,  still  without 
issue,  23  April,  1776.  His  widow,  formerly  Mrs.  Webb, 
then  married,  30  November,  1779,  a  Rev.  Mr.  Jones  of 
Western.* 

The  following  is  the  inscription  upon  Mr.  Webb's  grave 
stone  :  — 

*  Letter  of  Rev.  R.  C.  Learned,  Canterbury,  Ct. 


E  E  V  .     A  M  A  11 1  A  H     FROST.  87 

SACRED   TO   THE    MEMORY   OF   THE 

REVEREND  AND  LEARNED  NATHAN  WEBB, 

PASTOR   OF   THE   CHURCH    OF    CHRIST, 

IN  UXBRIDGE  : 

Who,  after  a  laborious   life   in   the   Gospel   Ministry,  Resigned   his 

Ministerial  office  in  God's  Sanctuary  for  the  sublime  Employments 

of  Immortality,  March  14,  1772  ;  In  the  67th  year  of  his  age, 

And  the  42nd  year  of  his  Ministry. 

MEMENTO   MORI.* 
3.   REV.   AMARIAH   FROST 

Was  the  son  of  Mr.  Samuel  and  Elizabeth  (Rice)  Frost, 
and  was  born  in  Framingham,  4  October,  1720.  He  gradu 
ated  at  Harvard  1740,  and  A.  M.,  was  ordained  over  the 
second  church  in  Mendon,  (now  Milford,)  21  December, 
1743,  and  died  14  March,  1792,  aged  seventy-two  years. 

The  following  interesting  document,  in  his  own  hand 
writing,  is  copied  from  the  church-records  of  Milford  :  — 

"  A  record  of  my  genealogy,  as  far  as  I  can  trace  it  back 
according  to  the  best  accounts  received  by  tradition  : 

u  JOHN  FROST  of  England,  in  the  time  of  the  Nonconform 
ists,  wherein  a  great  number  were  silenced  in  England,  was 
one  of  them.  Two  of  his  sons  came  to  America,  —  fled  for 
refuge  to  this  then  savage  wilderness,  to  escape  the  more 
savage  oppression  and  enjoy  the  freedom  of  Englishmen* 
Samuel  Frost,  my  father,  of  Framingham,  in  the  county  of 
Middlesex,  and  province  of  Massachusetts  Bay,  in  New 
England,  was  a  descendant  of  the  fifth  generation,  ( ut  puto).\ 

*  Letter  of  Rev.  J.  J.  Abbot,  Uxbridge. 

t  Dr.  Elias  Frost,  of  Plainfield,  N.  II,  furnishes  the  following 
grounds  of  this  "  puto." 

1.  Rev.  John  Frost,  the  silenced  non-conformist,  whose  two  sons, 
Nicholas  and  Edmund^  came  to  America,  about  1635  ;  of  whom,  Nicholas 
settled  in  Portsmouth,  N.  H. 

2.  Edmund  Frost  settled  at  Cambridge,  and  was  ruling  elder  in  Rev. 


88  BIOGRAPHICAL     SKETCHES. 

My  mother  was  a  Rice,  the  daughter  of  Dea.  Rice  of  Fra- 
mingham  aforesaid,  and  was  descended  from  the  Walkers  of 
England,  (mother's  side).  I,  Amariah  Frost,  of  Mendoh, 
(Millriver,)  now  Milford,  in  the  county  of  Worcester,  was 
born  at  Framingham.  in  the  county  of  Middlesex,  4  October, 
1720.  Married  Esther  Messinger,  daughter  of  Rev.  Henry 
Messinger,  of  Wrenthan,  county  of  Suffolk,  (now  Norfolk,) 
27  April,  1747." 

By  this  marriage,  Rev.  Mr.  Frost  had  five  children ;  the 
first,  Esther,  died  you/ig.  The  others  were  as  follows  :  — 

2.  Amariah,  b.  5  Feb.  1750.      H.  U.  1770,  and  preached 
some  time  in  Ward.     He  died  in  Sanford,  Me. 

3.  Sarah,  b.  24  May,  1751 ;  and  married  Rev.  Hezekiah 
Taylor  of  New  Fane,  Vt. 

4.  Olive,  b.  19  February,  1753;  and  married  Dr.  Samuel 
Willard,  an  eminent  physician  of  Uxbridge. 

5.  Elizabeth,  b.   6    September,   1754;  and  married   Dr. 
Isaac  Brigham  of  Milford. 

Rev.  Mr.  Frost's  wife  died  5  January,  1778.  He  then 
married  Susanna,  the  youngest  daughter  of  Rev.  Joseph 
Dorr,  of  Mendon,  and  had  two  children.  The  first,  Mary, 
died  young.  The  second,  Elias,  was  born  10  January,  1782. 
Fitted  for  college  at  Leicester,  and  with  Dr.  Crane  of  North- 


Thomas  Shepard's  church  ;  and  who  had  children,  —  1.  John,  horn  in 
England.  2.  James,  Dea  at  Billcrica,  and  died  12  August,  1711,  aged 
74.  3.  Samuel  ;  and  4.  Joseph. 

3.  John  Frost,  the  child  immigrant,  supposed  to  have  a  son,  Thomas, 
who  took  300  acres  of  land  in  Framingham  in  1700. 

4.  Thomas  Frost  had  sons,  Thomas,  jr,  and  doubtless  Samuel. 

5.  Samuel  Frost,  the  fifth  generation  from  Rev.  John,  the  non-con 
formist,   and   father  of  Rev.  Amariah  Frost  of  Milford.    He  married 
Elizabeth  Rice,  and  had  seven  children.     1.  Kcziah,  horn  1  Dec.  1711. 
2.  Bezaleel,  horn  8  September,  1713.    3.  Samuel,  horn   13  Dec.  1715, 
and  married  Rebecca  How.     4.  Amasa,  born  24  Jan.  1717.     5.  Ama 
riah,  born  4  Oct.  1720.     6.  Elizabeth,  born  10  May,  1724,  and  married 
Isaac  Cutler.    7.  Lois,  2  Oct.  1732,  and  married  Phinehas  Goodcnow. 


REV.    BLISHA  FISH.  89 

bridge.  Graduated  at  Brown  University,  1804.  A.  M.  and 
M.  D.  in  1824.  He  has  since  extensively  practised  medicine 
in  Plainfield,  N.  H.,  where  he  now  resides. 

Rev.  Mr.  Frost  was  again  deprived  of  his  wife,  21  June, 
1783  ;  and  he  married  Mrs.  Sarah  Adams,  who  survived  him. 

Mr.  Frost  was  reputed  an  excellent  man,  and  one  of  the 
most  popular  preachers  of  his  age.  It  is  a  sufficient  indica 
tion  of  his  reputation,  and  of  his  attainments,  to  state,  that 
he  was  extensively  resorted  to  as  an  instructor  of  young 
men,  fitting  for  college  and  for  the  ministry.  A  list  of  his 
pupils  is  not  preserved.  But  among  them  were,  his  son 
Amariah,  Thomas  Haven,  son  of  Rev.  Elias  Haven  of 
Franklin,  and  settled  in  Reading  2d  church,  and  Hezekiah 
Taylor,  afterwards  of  New  Fane ;  and  also  Alexander 
Scammel,  one  of  the  aids  of  General  Washington  in  the 
Revolution. 

None  of  his  works  were  published,  save  the  charge  at  the 
ordination  of  Mr.  T.  Dickinson,  Holliston,  —  the  last  charge 
he  ever  gave. 

4.  REV.    ELISHA    FISH 

Was  the  son  of  Mr.  Moses  Fish,  a  respectable  farmer  of 
Groton,  Ct.  He  was  born  1719;  graduated  at  Harvard 
1750,  and  A.  M.,  and  was  ordained  over  the  church  in  Upton, 
o  June,  1751.  He  continued  in  the  pastoral  office  forty-four 
years,  and  died  6  August,  1795,  aged  seventy-six  years. 
He  married  Hannah  Fobes,  the  daughter  pf  Dea.  Fobes  of 
Westboro',  by  whom  he  had  nine  children,  six  of  whom 
survived  him,  viz  : 

1.  Martha,  married Page. 

2.  Abigail,  married  Elijah  Warren. 

3.  Elisha,  jr.,  (v.  Licentiates,  No.  13.) 

4.  Holloway,  (v.  Licentiates,  No.  24.) 

5.  Henry,  married  a  Holmes. 

8* 


90  BIOGRAPHICAL     SKETCHES. 

6.  Eunice,  married  Rev.  Mr.  Langdon,  and  now  lives  with 
Wm.  Fay  of  Cincinnati,  her  son-in-law. 

Mr.  Fish's  characteristics  have  been  thus  laconically 
summed  up  ;  "  He  was  a  grave  and  good  man  of  the  Puritan 
stamp  ;  gave  himself  wholly  to  the  ministry  ;  was  soundly 
orthodox ;  governed  his  own  household,  the  church  of  God, 
and  his  own  tongue  and  passions."  * 

The  following  extracts  from  his  funeral  sermon,  by  his 
long-tried  and  intimate  friend,  Dr.  Emmons,  may  be  consid 
ered  just :  — 

"  The  better  to  prepare  him  for  His  own  service,  God  was 
pleased  to  give  him,  for  a  long  time,  most  clear  and  distress 
ing  views  of  the  enmity,  malignity,  and  total  corruption  of 
the  human  heart. 

"  Being  persuaded  it  was  his  duty  to  preach  the  Gospel, 
he  surmounted  peculiar  difficulties,  and  obtained  a  liberal 
education.  And  as  soon  as  he  had  finished  his  academical 
course,  he  immediately  offered  himself  as  a  candidate  to  the 
work,  to  which  his  heart  had  been  long  and  zealously 
attached. 

"  Being  understandingly  and  heartily  attached  to  the  pe 
culiar  doctrines  of  grace,  he  made  them  the  common  subjects 
of  his  public  discourses.  He  made  a  point  of  explaining  the 
Gospel,  and  of  giving  his  hearers  a  clear,  connected,  and 
extensive  view  of  the  great  scheme  of  redemption.  He 
possessed  the  rare  talents  of  a  good  casuist. 

"  He  annually  visited  every  family  in  his  whole  congrega 
tion,  in  order  to -know  the  state  of  his  flock. 

"  He  carried  his  religion  into  all  places  and  into  all  com 
panies.  His  house  appeared  like  a  bethel ;  especially  on  the 
Sabbath,  for  which  he  maintained  and  inculcated  a  most 
sacred  reverence.  His  veracity  and  integrity  were  never, 
perhaps,  so  much  as  called  in  question. 

*  Letter  of  Rev.  W.  Warren,  Upton. 


REV.    DAVID    TIIURSTOX.  91 


"  His  occasional  publications  served  the  cause  of  liberty 
and  religion.  And  his  vigorous  exertions  in  ecclesiastical 
councils  did  essential  benefit  to  the  churches  of  Christ. 

"  Mr.  Fish  seldom  wrote  his  sermons. 


O.    REV.    DAVID    TIIURSTOX 

Was  the  second  son  of  Daniel  and  Deborah  (Pond) 
Thurston,  of  Wrentharn,  where  he  was  born,  9  May,  172G.* 
He  graduated  at  the  college  of  New  Jersey,  Princeton,  1751. 
He  received  an  invitation  to  settle  in  West  Medway,  5  March, 
1752,  which  he  accepted  29  April,  and  was  ordained  23 
June,  1752.  Ilev.  Nathan  Bucknam,  of  the  first  church, 
preached  the  ordination-sermon.  Owing  to  the  ill  health  of 
Mr.  Thurston,  and  some  difficulties,  supposed  to  grow  out  of 
the  revival  of  1740,  with  which  some  did  not  sympathize,  he 
was  led  to  ask  a  dismission.  This  event  took  place  22  Feb. 
17G9,  after  he  had  been  settled  nearly  17  years.  Mr.  T. 
was  never  resettled.  In  the  spring  of  1772,  he  removed 
with  his  family  to  Oxford,  where  he  purchased  a  farm,  for 
which  he  paid  £700.f 

He  subsequently  removed  to  Auburn,  and  finally  to  Button, 
where  he  died  5  May,  1777.  He  was  the  father  of  five 
children. 

1.  Susan,  married  and  died  in  Oxford,  September,  1798. 
Her  children  are  in  New  York  State. 

2.  Paul,  settled  in  Harvard,  and  died   September,  1797. 
Some  of  his  descendants  are  living  in  Maine. 

3.  Elihu,  with  his  brother, 

4.  Abijah,  were  in  the  Continental  army.     Both  belonged 


*  His  father  was  born  20  November.  1693,  and  was  the  son  of  Tho 
mas  and  Esther  Thurston,  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  the  town.— Rev. 
II.  James,  Wrentham. 

t  Rev.  L.  Wright's  Century  Sermon. 


92  BIOGllAPIIICAL    SKETCHES. 

to  the  same  company,  and  were  killed  in  the  same  battle, 
August,  1777. 

5.  Nathan,  died  in  Oxford,  about  1817,  and  left  a  numer 
ous  and  respectable  posterity.* 

The  inscription  on  Rev.  Mr.  Thurston's  tombstone  in 
Auburn  is  as  follows,  verbatim  : 

IX    MEMORY    OF    THE 

REV.  MR.  DAVID  THURSTON, 

WHO    DIED    MAY    5;h    1777, 
IN    THE   51st   YEAR    OF   HIS    AGE. 

WAS  PASTOR  OF  THE  2nd  CHURCH  IN  MEDWAY  MANY  YEARS. 


Sweet  is  the  memory  of  those 
For  whom  Christ  died  ;  yea.  has  arose, 
And  broke  the  bonds  of  Death  and  hell, 
That  they  with  Him  in  Heaven  may  dwell.! 

During  the  ministry  of  Mr.  Thurston,  79  persons  were 
admitted  to  the  church,  and  23  owned  the  covenant  with 
reference  to  baptism. 

No  materials  are  in  our  possession  for  forming  an  opinion 
of  Mr.  Thurston's  literary  abilities.  He  is  remembered  as 
not  efficient  enough  to  combat  and  overcome  the  difficulties 
in  his  infant  church.  He  yielded  to  them,  and  escaped  by 
resignation.  No  writings  of  his  are  known  to  exist,  as  any  in 
dex  to  his  attainments  as  a  theologian,  or  skill  as  a  preacher. 

6.    REV.    DAVID    HALL,    D.  D. 

Was  the  son  of  Joseph  Hallj  and  his  wife  Hannah  (Mil 
ler)  Hall,  and  was  born  in  Yarmouth,  5  August,  1704 ; 

*  Letter  of  Mr.  Geo.  F.  Daniels,  Oxford. 
t  Letter  of  Mr.  D.  Green,  Auburn. 

J  Dr.  Hall  descended  from  John  Hall,  who  came  from  Coventry  in 
the  north  of  England,  about  1630 ;  first  settled  in  Charlestown,  then 


REV.    DAY  ID    II  ALL.  93 

graduated  at  Harvard  1724,  and  A.  M.,  and  received  the 
honorary  degree  of  S.  T.  D.,  Dartmouth,  1777.  In  Nov. 
1729,  Mr.  Hall  commenced  supplying  the  pulpit  in  Sutton, 
just  vacated  by  Rev.  Mr.  McKinstry.  On  the  7th  of  March, 
the  church  gave  him  a  call  to  settle,  which  the  town  agreed 
to  March  2Gth,  and  he  was  ordained  over  the  church  in 
Sutton,  15  Oct.  1729.  Rev.  Mr.  Williams,  of  Weston, 
preached.  He  labored  here  until  his  death,  8  May,  1789, 
in  his  85th  year,  and  the  60th  year  of  his  ministry. 

Dr.  Hall  married,  24  June,  1731,  Elizabeth  Prescott, 
daughter  of  Doct.  Jonathan  and  Rebecca  (Bulkley)  Prescott 
of  Concord.  She  was  daughter  of  Peter  Bulkley,  Esq., 
and  grand-daughter  of  Rev.  Peter  Bulkley.  They  had  12 
children. 

1.  David,  born  5  May,  1732  ;  married  Mary  Barrett  of 
Stowe  ;  merchant  in  Sutton  ;  removed  to  Windsor,  Vt. ;  and 
died  in  Woodstock,  Vt.,  while  on  a  visit. 

2.  Elizabeth,  born  17  February,  1734.     Married  to  Col. 
John  Hale  of  Sutton,  physician  ;  settled  in  Hollis,  N.  H», 
where  she  died,  over  90  years  of  age. 

3.  Rebecca,  born   1    September,  1736.     Married  30  Oct. 
1760,  to  Rev.  Aaron  Putnam  of  Pomfret,  Ct. ;  was  killed  by 
a  fall  from -her  carriage,  17  July,  1773.     Left   two  children, 
Rebecca,  second  wife  of  Doct.  Samuel  F.  Morse  of  Sutton, 
and  Aaron  P.  jr. 

4.  Mary,  born,  14  December,  1738.    Married  to  Col.  John 
Putnam  of  Sutton,  and  had  eleven  children,  of  whom  was 
Doct,  John  P.  of  Upton. 

5.  Hannah,  born  3  August,  1740.     Married  to  Capt.  Asa 


Yarmouth.  lie  married  Miss  Larncd,  or,  says  another  Ms.,  Bcthiah 
Larnard,  and  had  twelve  sons.  John,  the  eldest,  had  three  sons,  Joseph, 
John,  and  Nathaniel.  Joseph  married  Hannah  Miller,  daughter  of 
Rev.  John  Miller,  first  minister  of  Yarmouth,  and  had  Joseph,  Daniel, 
Josiah,  Da  fid,  above,  Hannah,  Priscilla,  and  Margary.  —  Letters  of  Rev. 
D.  B.  Hall,  Cleaveland,  N.  Y.,  and  Rev.  G,  Lyman,  Sutton. 


94:  BIOGRAPHICAL     SKETCHES. 

Grosvenor  of  Pomfret,  Ct.,  and  died  at  Reading,  1834,  aged 
ninety-four. 

6.  Sarah,  born  15  Dec.  1742.    Married  to  Gen.  Jonathan 
Chase  of  Cornish,  N.  H.,  his  second  wife.     Her  daughter 
married  to  Doct.  Smith,  Medical  Prof,  at  New  Haven,  and 
was  the  mother  of  Doct.  D.  S.  C.  H.  Smith,  of  Sutton,  now 
resident  in  Providence,  R.  I. 

7.  John,  born  3  March,  1745  ;  died  14  March  following. 

8.  Benjamin,  born  27   Feb.   174G.      Married  Elizabeth 
Moseley  of  Sutton.     Died  at  St.  Albans,  Yt.,:  at  the  house 
of  his  son,  about  1833. 

9.  Lucy,  born  19  March,  1749.    Married  to  Capt.  Samuel 
Pain  of  Randolph,  Yt. 

10.  Joseph,  born  8  September,  1751  ;  H.  U.  1774;  mar 
ried  Chloe  Grosvenor,  daughter  of  Ebenezer  G.  of  Pomfret, 
Ct.    For  30  years  town-clerk,  and  for  50  years  school  teacher 
in  Sutton.     Died  6  April,  1840,  aged  89. 

11.  Jonathan,  born  20  January,  175*i.    Physician  in  Pom- 
fret,  Ct. 

12.  Deborah,  born  5  March,  175G.    Married  9  May,  1776, 
to  Rev.  Daniel   Grosvenor,  of  Grafton,  brother  of  Joseph's 
wife.     Died,  it  is  believed,  in  Petersham.     She  was  mother 
of  Rev.  Moses  G.  Grosvenor.    [See  Members,  No.  57.] 

Mrs.  Hall,  wife  of  Dr.  Hall,  died  in  Sutton,  7  Aug.  1803, 
aged  89.* 

A  brief  sketch,  such  alone  as  this  work  allows,  cannot  do 
justice  to  the  labors  and  character  of  Dr.  Hall. 

At  his  settlement,  the  church,  of  only  49  members,  was  in 
a  low  state,  and  had  just  passed  through  serious  troubles 
with  the  former  minister,  a  rigid  Scotch  Presbyterian.  Ini 
quity  abounded,  and  piety  was  dim.  But  a  mighty  work  of 
grace  soon  began,  which  resulted  in  the  addition  of  two 
hundred  and  sixty-one  members  to  the  church,  out  of  a  popu- 

*  Letter  of  Rev.  G.  Lyman,  Sutton. 


REV.    DAV*»-&AtL.  95 


lation  of  about  four  hundred  inhabitants.*  Other  periods 
of  interest  followed  at  different  dates. 

With  such  rich  fruits  before  him,  Dr.  Hall  became  an 
earnest  laborer  in  the  vicinity,  during  the  revival  of  1740. 
He  was  amongst  its  most  powerful  instruments ;  and  his  labors 
•were  greatly  blessed.  His  diary  from  1751  and  onwards, 
shows  him  to  have  been  an  eminently  spiritual  Christian, 
and  full  of  the  one  idea  of  bringing  souls  to  Christ.  He  was 
a  pungent  and  popular  preacher,  and  had  great  power  over 
his  hearers. 

As  an  illustration  of  the  subduing  influence  of  his  preach 
ing,  take  his  account  of  a  sermon  in  a  private  house,  where 
opposition  was  strongly  felt  towards  him.  "  When  I  came 
there,  I  seemed  welcome  to  but  few.  But  before  the  sermon 
was  over,  there  seemed  to  fall  such  a  shower  as  softened 
every  heart.  They  now  discovered  wonderful  affection  ; 
and  almost  the  whole  number  of  Christians  present  were 
unable  to  refrain  from  some  uncommon  discoveries  of  it. 
I  exhorted  them  after  preaching,  and  the  power  of  God 
seemed  to  descend  ;  some  careless  sinners,  especially  one 
young  man,  were  brought  under  strong  convictions.  All  the 
prejudice  conceived  by  some  brethren  against  me  vanished 
away  ;  and  some  of  them  discovered  deep  anguish  of  heart 
for  their  sin  therein." 

It  is  sufficient  commendation  of  Dr.  Hall's  public  reputa 
tion  amongst  his  contemporaries,  to  allude  to  the  fact  that  he 
was  the  intimate  and  esteemed  friend  of  Rev.  Jonathan  Ed 
wards,  of  Northampton.  He  was  a  member  of  the  council 
called  to  dismiss  the  latter,  and  was  afterwards  addressed  in 
a  letter  of  confession,  by  one  of  President  Edwards's  opposing 
parishioners.f 

*  For  an  account  of  this  revival,  see  Tracy's  History  of  the  Great 
Awakening,  p.  162.  Also,  Hist.  Sermon  of  Sutton,  by  Eev.  H.  A. 
Tracy. 

t  Sec  Life  of  President  Edwards,  in  his  works,  Vol.  I.  p.  42. 


96  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

"When  president  Bunn  of  New  Jersey  college  died,  Dr.  Hall 
was  one  of  the  candidates  for  the  vacancy,  to  which  his  friend, 
President  Edwards,  was  elected. 

It  may  be  inferred,  as  was  the  fact,  that  the  friend  of  Ed 
wards  and  admirer  of  Whitefield  was  of  the  Edwardean  school 
in  theology.  Although  it  does  not  appear  that,  at  any  period 
of  his  life,  he  devoted  himself,  with  peculiar  closeness,  to  the 
study  of  theology  as  a  science.  He  however  received  seve 
ral  young  men  into  his  family,  and  directed  their  theological 
studies.  Few  of  his  writings  are  extant.  Though  frequently 
requested  to  publish  his  discourses,  it  is  not  known  that  more 
than  two  were  ever  committed  to  press  :  a  thanksgiving  ser 
mon  on  the  reduction  of  Canada,  Oct.  17 60,  and  a  half-century 
sermon,  1779. 

His  epitaph  is  as  follows  :  * 

SACRED 

TO  THE  MEMORY  OF 
REV.  DAVID  HALL,  D.  D. 

Who  was  ordained  Pastor  of  the  First  Church  of  Christ 

in  Sutton,  Oct.  15,  1729,  and  was 

instant  and  laborious  in  the  business  of  his  office 

until  May  8,  1789,  when  he  departed  this  life 

in  the  eighty-fifth  year  of  his  age 

and  sixtieth  of  his  ministry. 
He  was  venerated  in  life,  and  lamented  in  death. 
The  grateful  people  of  his  charge  have  erected"  this  stone, 
a  monument  of  his  virtues  and  their  respect. 

7.    REV.    AARON    HUTCHINSON 

Was  born  within  the  then  town  of  Hebron,  Ct.,  March, 
1724,  and  graduated  at  Yale,  1747,  and  A.  M.  He  was  also 
Dean  scholar  at  New  Haven,  and  "  took  the  premium  with- 


*  Letter  of  Be v.  G.  Lyman,  Sutton. 


REV.    AARON    HUTC  II  INSON,  97 

out  a  competitor  appearing  as  rival."  He  received  the  de 
gree  of  A.  M.  from  Harvard,  1750  ;  Dartmouth,  1780  ;  and 
New  Jersey,  1794.  He  was  ordained  second  pastor  of  the 
church  in  Grafton,  6  June,  1750.  Rev.  Mr.  Pumroy  of  He 
bron  preached.  He  was  dismissed  by  the  church  18  Nov., 
1772,  at  his  own  request,  though  the  town  refused  to  concur 
in  the  vote,  and  did  not.  He  continued  to  reside  in  Grafton, 
supplying  vacant  churches  in  the  neighborhood,  until  177&, 
when  he  purchased  a  farm  in  Pomfret,  Vt.,  and  engaged  to 
supply,  for  five  years,  the  towns  of  Pomfret,  Woodstock,  and 
Hartford.  On  the  4th  of  July,  1776,  he  removed,  with  his 
family  of  ten  children,  to  Vermont,  and  resided  on  his  farm, 
preaching  in  the  vicinity,  often  gratuitously,  until  his  death. 
This  occurred  1  Sept.,  1800,  at  the  age  of  seventy-six  and  a 
half  years.  During  his  long  ministerial  life,  he  was  never 
prevented  from  preaching,  by  ill  nealth,  but  two  Sabbaths; 
and  one  of  these  was  the  last  Sabbath  before  he  died.  He 
preached  at  a  funeral  on  Friday ;  was  but  poorly  able  to  get 
home,  and  died  the  next  Thursday,  of  a  fever. 

Mr.  Hutchinson  was  a  man  of  strong  natural  powers  of 
mind,  and  was  considered  a  learned  man  and  a  good  classical 
scholar  by  his  contemporaries.  He  was  particularly  remarka 
ble  for  an  extraordinary  memory.  It  was  of  him  that  the 
remark  was  made,  '  If  the  Bible  were  destroyed,  he  could  re 
write  it  from  memory.'  This,  however,  was  more  than  true. 
He  could  very  nearly  tell  where  any  text  was  to  be  found. 
He  could  repeat  the  whole  of  the  New  Testament.*  He 
often  entered  the  pulpit  and  went  through  the  whole  service 
without  opening  a  book  of  any  kind.  He  appointed  his  hymns 
and  recited  them,  as  well  as  passages  of  Scripture,  with  en 
tire  confidence  in  his  memory,  and  without  mistake. 

Mr.  Hutchinson  is  known  at  this  day  chiefly  as  one  of  the 
polemic  writers  of  the  last  century.  His  controversy  with 

*  Letter  of  Hon.  Titus  Hutchinson,  Woodstock,  Vt. 
9 


98  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

Rev.  Dr.  Tucker,  of  the  First  church,  Newbury,  on  some  of 
the  points  of  Arminianism,  presents  him  as  a  high-toned  Qal- 
vinist,  a  zealous  defender  of  the  faith,  and  a  vigorous  writer. 
In  his  personal  habits,  Mr.  Hutchinson  had  many  eccentrici 
ties.  "  He  was  without  grace  or  polish  in  his  manners,  and 
his  freedom,  though  he  probably  was  not  conscious  of  it  him 
self,  must  often  have  verged  upon  rudeness."  He  instructed 
many  youth  in  his  family.  Tradition  avers  that  "his  method 
was  to  teach  Latin  and  Greek,  and  probably  other  branches, 
as  he  wrought  in  the  field,  his  pupils  being  required  to  follow 
him  as  he  followed  the  plough.  His  classical  attainments 
and  strong  memory  enabled  him  thus  to  cultivate  mind  and 
mold  at  the  same  time.  Both  soils,  we  doubt  not  (says  the 
author  we  quote),  were  well  tilled,  though  we  may  innocently 
conjecture  that  the  master^at  the  plough-handle  would,  now 
and  then,  be  guilty  of  an  ungrammatical  apocope,  as  the  share 
was  caught  with  frequent  jerks  among  the  roots  and  rocks  of 
the  rough  new  country.  None  but  an  accomplished  linguist, 
we  are  sure,  could,  under  such  circumstances,  have  adminis 
tered  Greek  to  the  student  and  English  to  the  cattle,  in  due 
proportion  and  proper  order,  without  confusion.* 

Several  printed  sermons  of  Mr.  Hutchinson  are  to  be 
found,  viz. 

Valor  for  the  Truth.   Newburyport,  27  April,  1767. 

Sermon  at  Graft  on,  23  Oct.,  1768,  (Sabbath  after  the  exe 
cution  of  Arthur,  at  Worcester). 

Two  Sermons  at  Grafton  15  Nov.,  1772  (the  last  to  his 
people). 

Sermon  at  Pelham,  28  Dec.,  1773. 

These  sermons  show  him  to  have  been  a  preacher  of  much 
more  than  common  power  and  influence. 

Mr.  Hutchinson  married  Miss  Margary  Carter,  a  native  of 

*  See  "  Church  Record,"  by  Rev.  E.  B.  Willson,  Grafton. 


REV.     AARON' II  UTCHINSON.  99 

of  his  own  town  Hebron,  Ct.    She  died  8  Aug.,  1819,  in  her 
ninetieth  year.     Their  ten  children  were  as  follows. 

1.  Margary,  m.  Mr.   Samuel  Wadsworth,  of  Henniker, 
N.  H. 

2.  Mary,  m. Aldrich.     He  died  in  the  army,  soon  af 
ter  the  revolutionary  war  commenced.     She  died  in  Pomfret, 
Vt.,  June,  1789. 

3.  Aaron,  Jr.,  H.  U.,  1770.    Preached  till  his  voice  failed ; 
then  studied  law  and  settled  in  Lebanon,  N.  H.,  where  he 
died,  1843. 

4.  William  Samuel.    Settled  first  in  Pomfret ;  then  Pike, 
Pa. 

5.  Susanna,  unm.,  d.  in  Pomfret,  July,  1848. 

6.  Joanna,  m.  Mr.  Phinehas  Davis,  S.  Stanstead,  Canada. 

7.  Alexander,  a  retired  merchant,  still  lives  in  Wood 
stock,  Vt. 

8.  Sarah,  m.  John  McKenzie  ;   died,  1844. 

9.  Oliver,  a  merchant ;  died,  October,  1800. 

10.  Titus,  grad.  Vermont  U.  1811.    Lawyer  and  judge; 
still  living  in  Woodstock. 

Two  of  the  above  children  still  live  :  Alexander,  who  will 
be  eighty-eight  next  July  4th,  and  Titus,  who  will  be  eighty- 
one  next  April  29th.  The  others  all  died  at  an  advanced 


Inscription  upon  the  gravestone  of  Rev.  Mr.  Hutchinson. 

Here  lie  the  relicts  of 
REV.  AARON  HUTCHINSON. 

He  died  Sept.  27,  1800,  in  the  seventy-ninth  year  of  his  age, 

and  fiftieth  of  his  ministry. 

His  days  he  passed  in  health,  religion,  and  domestic  virtue  ; 
nor  did  his  sun  go  down  till  night* 

*  Letter  of  Hon.  Titas  Hutchinson,  Woodstock,  Vt. 


100  BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES. 


8.  REV.    CALEB  BARNUM, 

Was  the  son  of  Thomas  and  Deborah  Barnum,*  and  was 
born  in  Danbury,  Ct.,  30  June,  1737,  graduated  Princeton,  N. 
J.  1757,  and  A.  M.  at  Harvard  1768.  He  received  a  call  to 
settle  over  the  second  church  in  Wrentham,  now  Franklin, 
28  Oct.,  1759,  and  was  ordained  4  June,  1760.  Rev.  Philips 
Payson  of  Walpole,  preached  the  sermon.  Difficulties  arose, 
and  Mr.  Barnum  felt  it  his  duty  to  ask  a  dismission  ;  to  which 
the  church  reluctantly  consented,  and  he  was  dismissed,  6 
March,  1768.  After  his  departure  from  Franklin,  he  recieved 
an  invitation  to  the  pastoral  office  in  Taunton,  and  was  in 
stalled  there,  2  Feb.,  1769.  The  war  of  the  colonies  awak 
ened  his  strongest  sympathies,  and  he  applied  for  a  chaplain 
cy  in  the  army.  He  enlisted  3  May,  1775,  left  Taunton,  and 
was  chaplain,  first  to  Col.  Walker's  regiment,  and  then  to  the 
XXIV  Regiment,  Col.  John  Grealon  commander,  at  that 
time  stationed  at  Boston.  This  latter  connection  began  10 
Feb.,  1776.  After  the  evacuation  of  Boston,  he  accompanied 
his  regiment  to  New  York,  then  to  Montreal,  where  he  was 
inoculated  for  the  small  pox.  He  shared  with  fortitude  in 
the  disastrous  retreat  from  Canada.  At  Ticonderoga  he  was 
seized  with  a  bilious  disorder,  which  so  impaired  his  health 
that  he  obtained  a  discharge  on  the  24  July,  and  commenced 
his  return  homewards.  But  on  his  reaching  Pittsfield,  Aug. 

*  Thomas  Barnum  was  either  son  or  grandson  of  Thomas,  one  of 
the  first  settlers  of  Norwalk,  Ct. ;  where  he  is  found  from  1662  to  1682, 
or  later,  when  he  removed  to  Danbury.  Had  5  sons,  Thomas  b.  1663, 
John  1677,  Ebenezer  1682,  the  others  horn  in  Danbury,  date  unknown, 
as  the  records  were  burnt  by  the  British  in  the  war.  Thomas,  the  elder, 
was  appointed  by  the  town  in  1681,  u  to  keep  decorum  during  the  exer 
cise  on  the  Sabbath  and  at  other  public  meetings,  and  to  keep  a  small 
stick  with  which  moderately  to  correct  the  disorderly."  Rev.  S.  H. 
Emery. 


REV.    CALEB    BARNUM.  101 

2,  he  was  arrested  by  an  accession  of  his  disorder.  He 
wrestled  with  his  disease  until  he  fell,  23  Aug.  1776,  at  the 
age  of  39.  A  sermon  was  preached  at  his  funeral,  from  John 
14  :  28,  by  Rev.  Thomas  Allen,  then  minister  of  Pittsfield. 

Mr.  Barnum  left  behind  him  a  wife  and  seven  children. 
He  married,  13  June,  1761,  Priscilla,  daughter  of  Rev.  Caleb 
Rice  of  Sturbridge.  His  wife  was  sister  of  Col.  Nathan 
Rice  of  Hingham,  afterwards  Aid-de-camp  to  Gen.  Lincoln 
in  the  Southern  campaign. 

He  had  three  sons  and  five  daughters,  one  of  which  died 
in  infancy. 

1.  Caleb,  b.  11  April,  1762  :  m.  Nancy  Paine  of  Thetford, 
Vt. 

2.  Priscilla,  b.  1  April,  1764 :    m.   Capt.  David  Vickery 
of  Taunton. 

3.  Deborah,  b.  27  Oct.,  1766:  m.  Thomas  S.  Bailies  of 
Dighton. 

4.  George,  b.  25  May,  1768:  m.  Sally  Cutler  of  Warren. 

5.  Mary,  died  young. 

6.  Thomas,  b.  30  Oct.,  1772 :  m.  Sally  Abraham  of  New 
York. 

7.  Anna,  b.  30  Dec.,  1773  :  m.  Rufus  Child  of  Woodstock, 
Ct.     She  is  the  only  child  living,  and  is  entirely  blind ;  re 
sides  in  Taunton. 

8.  Polly,  b.  11  Oct.,  1775  :  m.  Rev.  Peter  Nourse  of  Ells 
worth,  Me. 

The  changeful  life  of  Rev.  Mr.  Barnum,  like  that  of  many 
others,  presents  numerous  points  of  interest.  He  was  a  man 
of  noble  impressive  aspect,  —  dignified  yet  affable,  —  uniting 
the  paternal  mildness  of  the  clergyman  with  the  grace  and 
polish  of  the  gentleman.  Yet  he  had  a  bold,  fearless  spirit, 
which  bore  him  unflinchingly  through  hardships  and  opposi 
tion.  His  dismission  from  Franklin  is  said  to  have  been 
primarily  owing  to  a  misunderstanding  between  two  members 
of  the  church  about  a  few  cranberries.  The  amount  of  tres- 

9* 


102      BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

pass  was  thought  by  him  who  felt  injured,  to  be  not  more 
than  two  dollars  :  which  sum  Mr.  B.  offered  to  pay  himself,  if 
the  complainant  would  rest.  When  this  offer  was  known, 
the  minister  was  blamed  as  trying  to  shield  the  guilty.*  And 
so  a  bone  was  found  for  the  inclined  to  growl  over.  The  in 
troduction  of  Dr.  Watts's  Version  of  the  Psalms,  furnished 
another  question  of  dispute. 

Mr.  Barnum's  connection  in  Taunton  was  also  marked  by 
differences  with  some  of  his  parishioners.  Yet  in  both  con 
nections,  his  friends  were  very  strongly  his,  and  they  were 
in  decided  majorities.  • 

During  Mr.  Barnum's  ministry  in  Franklin,  forty-seven 
were  added  to  the  church,  though  there  was  no  general  revi 
val  of  religion.  In  Taunton,  the  thrilling  events  of  the  revo 
lutionary  war  occupied  all  minds,  and  the  pastor  entered  most 
cordially  and  enthusiastically  into  the  cause  of  freedom.  He 
announced  the  news  of  the  skirmish  at  Lexington  from  the 
pulpit,  and  gave  his  people,  thereupon,  an  eloquent  exhorta 
tion  to  firmness  and  patriotism.  His  manuscript  sermons, 
several  of  which  are  in  possession  of  the  writer,  show  him  to 
be  vigorous,  bold,  and  unshrinking  in  his  presentation  of  the 
Gospel,  yet  affectionate  and  persuasive  in  its  practical  appli 
cation.  He  must  have  been  an  efficient  and  moving  preacher. 
Nothing  of  his  is  known  to  have  been  published.  His  closing 
moments,  so  painful  to  him  in  their  circumstances,  were  sus 
tained  by  the  hopes  of  the  Gospel.  Rev.  Mr.  Allen,  of  Pitts- 
field,  where  he  died,  thus  speaks  of  him :  "  Not  a  repining 
word  was  uttered  by  him.  He  received  the  report  of  his 
physician,  of  the  great  hazard  of  his  case,  with  equable  firna- 
ness  and  composure  of  mind.  Such  sweetness  of  temper,  such 
tranquillity  of  spirit,  such  serenity  and  peace  in  the  near  view 
of  death  and  eternity,  — such  patience  under  pain,  and  entire 
•ubmission  to  God's  disposing  will,  which  appeared  in  him, 

*  Gent.  Sermon  of  Franklin,  by  Rev.  E.  Smalley,  D.  D. 


REV.    EBENEZER    CHAPLIN.  103 

manifested  at  once  the  power  of  those  supports  and  consola 
tions  which  he  enjoyed,  and  the  excellence  of  the  Christian 
religion. 

"  Being  asked  his  present  views,  in  the  approach  of  death, 
as  to  the  goodness  of  the  American  cause,  in  which  he  had 
been  engaged,  and  by  means  of  which  he  was  now  about  to 
die,  replied,  *  He  had  no  doubt  of  the  justice  and  goodness  of 
that  cause,  and  that  had  he  a  thousand  lives,  he  should  b§ 
willing  to  lay  them  all  down  in  it/'* 

9.    REV.    EBENEZER    CHAPLIN 

Was  the  son  of  Benjamin  Chaplin.t  His  mother  was  an 
Alden.  He  was  born  in  that  part  of  Pomfret,  Ct.,  which  is 
now  called  Hampton,  16  Sept.,  1733.  He  graduated  at  Yalq 
College,  1763,  and  A.  M.  ;  studied  divinity  with  Kev.  Dr. 
Hall  of  Sutton,  and  was  ordained  over  the  Second  church  in 
Sutton,  now  Millbury,  14  Nov.,  1764;  dismissed  6  March, 
1792.  He  afterwards  lived  with  his  children,  being  wealthy ; 
and  finally  died  at  Hardwick,  13  Dec.,  1822,  aged  nearly  90. 

Mr.  Chaplin  married  Miss  Mary  Morse,  of  Holliston,  by 
whom  he  had  seven  children :  1.  Mary,  died  at  23  years. 
2.  Sarah,  m.  Rev.  Thomas  Holt,  second  minister  of  Hard- 
wick,  and  the  only  survivor  of  the  family,  now  at  the  age  of 
89.  Mr.  Chaplin  died  in  her  family.  3.  Aaron  Morse  died, 
aged  18.  4.  Ebenezer,  m.  Abigail  Griswold,  of  Athol, 
where  he  was  physician,  and  died  May,  1844.  5.  and  6, 


*  Letter  of  Rev.  T.Allen  to  Pittsfield  Representatives,  Aug.  26, 1776. 

t  He  came  from  England,  killed  an  Indian,  and  was  hunted,  in  re 
venge,  through  the  wilderness.  Finally  settled  in  Pomfret,  Ct.  and 
had  eight  children.  Benjamin,  the  oldest  son,  lived  in  Mansfield,  Ct., 
and  was  deacon  of  the  church,  to  which  he  gave  a  large  sum  of  money. 
Hence  that  part  of  the  town  was  called  Chaplin,  in  acknowledgment  of 
the  gift.  The  other  children  were,  Joseph,  Nathan,  John,  William,  Mary, 
Tammy,  and  Ebenezer,  above. 


104      BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

Ichabod  and  Anna,  died  young.  7.  Benjamin,  physician  in 
Dixfield,  Me.,  where  he  died,  Dec.  1836.  He  married  Miss 
Sally  Towne,  of  Ward,  now  Auburn.* 

"  Mr.  Chaplin  was  a  man  of  strong  mental  powers,  a  good 
textuary,  a  fair  reasoner,  and  possessed  no  inconsiderable 
share  of  originality  in  his  colloquial  powers  and  style  of 
writing."  He  published  several  controversial  works,  on  doc 
trinal  subjects ;  among  them,  a  volume  "  on  the  Sacraments." 
His  ministry  in  Millbury  was  not  marked  by  any  remarka 
ble  success. 

10.   REV.   ISAAC    STONE 

Was  born  in  Shrewsbury,  17  March,  1748.  He  was  the 
only  son  and  eldest  of  four  children  of  Dea.  Jonas  and  Rachel 
(llice)  Stone,  of  Framingham,  afterwards  of  Shrewsbury-! 
His  mother  was  a  woman  distinguished  for  her  piety,  mater^ 
nal  fidelity,  and  prayerfulness.  It  was  parental  solicitude 
which  early  led  him  to  Christ  and  to  the  ministry  as  his  voca 
tion.  At  fifteen,  he  commenced  the  study  of  the  languages, 
under  Rev.  Mr.,  afterwards  Dr.,  Sumner,  of  Shrewsbury. 
At  sixteen,  he  united  with  the  church.  In  1765,  he  went  to 
Chelsea,  and  completed  his  preparation  for  college  with  Rev. 
Mr.  Payson,  and  graduated  at  Cambridge,  1770,  and  A.  M. 
in  course. 

He  preached  a  while  in  Temple,  N.  H.,  and  in  Ashburn- 
harn  and  Franklin  in  this  State,  and  came  to  Douglas  as 
candidate,  31  March,  1771.  He  was  ordained  there,  30  Oct., 
1771,  and  was  dismissed,  at  his  own  request,  28  Oct.,  1805, 
having  been  settled  thirty-four  years. 


*  Letter  of  A.  E.  Knight,  Esq.,  Hard  wick. 

t  Mr.  Stone  descended  from  John  Stone.  Elder  in  the  church  at  Cam 
bridge.  Elder  John  Stone's  son  Nathaniel  was  father  of  Isaac  Stone  of 
Framingham,  whose  son  was  Dea.  Jonas  Stone,  father  of  the  above. 


REV.    DAVID    SAN FORD.  105 


, 


He  continued  still  to  reside  in  Douglas  and  preached  occa 
sionally,  and  for  a  considerable  time  in  Whitinghana  and 
Reedsboro',  Vt.,  until  old  age  impaired  his  faculties.  He 
spent  the  close  of  his  life  with  his  children,  in  Oxford,  where 
at  length  he  died,  22  Feb.,  1837,  in  his  89th  year. 

Mr.  Stone  married  Miss  Susanna  Goddard,  daughter  of 
Benjamin  Goddard  of  Shrewsbury,  27  October,  1773,  and 
had  six  children,  four  of  whom  still  live. 

1.  His  eldest  son,  a  very  active  and  useful  man,  died  in 
early  life. 

2.  Susanna,  married  Mr.  John  Larned  of  "Webster,  and 
has  three  children  living. 

3.  Luke  R.,  Deacon  in  the  Congregational  Church,  Oxford. 

4.  Grace,  married  a  Mr.  Hill  of  Douglas,  and  has  three 
children. 

5.  Submit,  married  a  Mr.  Balcom  of  Douglas,  and  has 
nine  children. 

The  wife  of  Mr.  Stone  died  28  April,  1837,  aged  92  years, 
8  months,  and  13  days. 

This  worthy  pair  lived  together  nearly  sixty-four  years, 
died  within  two  months  of  each  other,  and  are  both  interred 
in  one  grave  in  the  old  bury  ing-ground  in  Oxford. 

Mr.  Stone's  ministry  in  Douglas  was  characterized,  not 
by  striking  and  brilliant  exhibitions,  but  by  quiet,  steady, 
unobtrusive  labor,  under  which  the  walls  of  Zion  rise,  firmly 
cemented  and  compacted,  if  less  rapidly  than  under  such 
impulses  a^  mark  some  other  men's  labors. 

11.   REV.    DAVID    SANFORD 

Was  the  third  son  of  Elihu  and  Rachel  (Strong)  Sanford,  of 
New  Milford,  Ct.,  where  he  was  born,  11  December,  1737. 
He  was  named  after  David  Brainerd ;  to  whom  his  father 
was  especially  attached.  He  graduated  at  Yale  College 
1755,  and  A.  M. ;  and  commenced  the  study  of  divinity  with 


106      BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

Rev.  Dr.  Bellamy.  But,  under  that  godly  and  faithful 
instructor,  he  found  himself  to  be  wanting  in  'the  essential 
qualification  of  a  new  heart ;  and  he  relinquished  the  busi 
ness  of  the  ministry,  and  settled  down  as  a  farmer  in  Great 
Barrington,  near  to  his  brother-in-law,  Rev.  Dr.  Hopkins. 
Not  long  afterwards,  he  became  a  subject  of  Divine  grace. 

The  doctrines  of  the  '  new  divinity,'  as  Hopkinsianism  was 
at  first  termed,  peculiarly  excited  the  native  depravity  of  Mr. 
Sanford,  and  Dr.  Hopkins  became  the  object  of  his  dislike. 
The  settlement  of  their  wives'  patrimony  was  an  occasion  of 
showing  this  dislike,  in  a  very  aggravating  manner  ;  which, 
on  one  evening,  overcame  Dr.  Hopkins's  gentleness,  and  led 
him  to  use  very  sharp  language.  Mr.  S.  rejoiced  that  the 
mighty  had  fallen ;  but  on  opening  his  door  to  a  gentle 
knock  in  the  grey  dawn  of  the  next  morning,  the  Dr.  stood 
tearful  before  him.  He  requested  that  the  family  might  be 
called  together,  and  then  acknowledged  his  resentful  words 
on  the  preceding  evening,  implored  forgiveness  for  them, 
and  consented  to  any  reasonable  division  his  brother  might 
propose.  Mr.  S.  was  overwhelmed.  He  knew  that  he  had 
inveigled  the  unsuspecting  Christian  into  that  resentment ; 
and  he  saw  that  a  pious  heart  was  nobler  than  worldly  tact. 
He  bowed  to.  the  power  of  the  Gospel  so  tenderly  exhibited, 
and  became  a  child  of  God.  He  soon  after  recommenced 
and  completed  his  studies,  and  entered  the  ministry.* 

He  received  a  call  to  Medway,  west  parish,  28  Dec.  1772, 
which  he  accepted,  and  was  settled,  14  April,  1^73.  Rev. 
Dr.  West,  of  Stockbridge,  preached  on  the  occasion.  Dur 
ing  his  ministry  in  Medway,  he  was  appointed  chaplain  in 
the  army,  and  served  a  short  time  in  the  beginning  of  the 
war.f 

*  See  more  fully,  Prof.  Park's  Memoir  of  Hopkins,  p.  61. 
f  Mr.  Sanford's  commission  is  inserted  as  a  specimen  of  such  docu 
ments.     It  is  a  fine  specimen  of  chirography :  — 


REV.     DAVID    SANFORD.  107 

In  1807,  he  received  a  stroke  of  paralysis,  which  instantly 
terminated  his  public  labors.  .He  lived,  however,  in  a  dis 
tressed  state,  until  7  April,  1810,  when  he  died  in  his  73d 
year. 

Mr..  Sanford  married;  4  August,  1757,  Miss  Bathsheba 
Ingersol,  daughter  of  Moses  Ingersol,  then  of  Great  Barring- 
ton,  and  sister  to  the  wife  of  Rev.  S.  Hopkins,  D.  D.  She 
was  born  5  June,  1738.  They  had  ten  children. 

,~^^^  The  Committee  of  the  Council  of  Massachu- 

SEAL.  setts  Bay,   To  DAVID  SANFORD,  Gentleman, 

v— -V^--'  Greeting : 

WE  being  informed  of  your  exemplary  life 

and  manners,   and  reposing  especial   trust  in 

your  abilities  and  good  conduct,  Do  by  these 

presents  constitute  and  appoint  you   the   said 

W.  SEVER.  David  Sanford  to  be  Chaplain  of  the  Regiment 

B.  GREENLEAF.        whereof  Lemuel  Robinson  is  Colonel,  raised  by 

J.  "YViNTiiROP.          this   Colony  to  reinforce  the  American  army, 

J.  GUSHING.  until  the  first  day  of  April  next.     You  are 

JAMES  PRESCOTT.    therefore  carefully  and  diligently  to  inculcate 

JOHN  WHETCOMB.   on  the  minds  of  the  soldiers  of  said  Regiment, 

JED.  FOSTER.  as  well  by  example  as  precept,  the  duties  of 

MOSES  GILL.  Religion  and  morality,  and  a  fervent  love  to 

I.  PALMER.  their  country  in  all  other  respects,  and  to  dis- 

CHAS.  CHAUNCEY.    charge  the  duty  of  a  Chaplain  in  said  Regiment, 

S.  HOLT  ON.  observing  from  time  to  time  such  Orders  and 

MICHAEL  FARLEY.  Instructions  as  you  shall  receive  from   your 

JABEZ  FISHER.         superior  officers,  according  to   military   Rules 

JOHN  TAYLOR.         and    discipline   established  by  the  American 

B.  WHITE.  Congress,  —  in  pursuance  of  the  trust  reposed 

in   you,  for  which   this    shall  be  a    sufficient 

Warrant. 

Given  under  our  hands  and  the  seal  of  the 
said  Colony,  at  Watertown.  the  twenty -third 
day  of  January,  and  in  the  sixteenth  year  of 
the  reign  of  his  Majesty  King  George  the  Third. 
By  command  of  the  Major  part  of  the 
Council. 

PEREZ  MORTON  D.  SECY. 


108  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

1.  David,  b.  6   January,  1760 ;    private   in   continental 
army,  and  d.  in  Great  Harrington  19  July,  1841. 

2.  Philo,  b.   7   Sept.   1761;  married  Lydia  Whiting  of 
Medway,  and  lived  together  over  fifty  years. 

3.  Clarissa,  b.  20   Nov.   1763 ;    married  to   Rev.  John 
Morse.     (See  Licentiates,  No.  25.) 

4.  Elihu,  b.  28  Jan.  1766;  married,  first,  Hannah  Met- 
calf,  Franklin ;  second,  Miss  Betsey  Fisher  of  Belchertown. 
He  died  in  Oxford. 

5.  Ichabod,  b.  18  Oct.  1768;  still  lives  in  Belchertown, 
father  of  Rev.  W.  H.  Sanford  of  Boylston. 

6.  Bathsheba,  b.  14  Feb.  1770;  married  to  Rev.  Ethan 
Smith,  of  Haverhill,  N.  H.,  and  author  of  the  «  Key  to  Re 
velation."     She  died  at  Pompey  Hill,  N.  Y.,  5  April,  1835. 

7.  Stephen,  b.  March,  1773. 

8.  Moses,  b.  7  Nov.  1775  ;  was  a  lawyer. 

9.  Electa,  b.  13  March,  1778. 

10.  Samuel,  b.  29  January,  1780 ;  married  Miss  Betsey 
Wight,  daughter  of  Doct.  Aaron  Wight,  of  Medway.  He 
was  a  physician. 

Mr.  Sanfordrs  ministry,  until  near  its  close,  was  rendered 
uncomfortable  and  marred  in  its  results,  by  the  existence  of 
an  unhappy  difference  between  the  two  churches  in  Medway, 
which  prevented  mutual  fellowship  and  communion.  But 
he  lived  to  see  the  breach  healed,  and  communion  renewed. 
He  was  permitted  to  enjoy  several  seasons  of  religious  inter 
est,  in  one  of  which,  in  the  winter  of  1784,  nearly  one 
hundred  were  brought  to  Christ. 

No  list  of  his  published  books  has  been  obtained,  although 
he  appeared  occasionally  as  an  author.  It  is  but  just  to  say 
of  him,  that  in  his  doctrinal  views,  he  sympathized  mainly 
with  his  early  teachers  and  later  associates  in  the  ministry, 
while  he  held  some  views  upon  the  extent  of  the  atonement 
and  of  redemption,  as  did  Mr.  Avery  of  Wrentham,  different 
from  his  brethren  of  the  Association.  The  difference,  if 


REV.    NATHANAEL    EMMONS,   D.  D.         109 

rightly  understood  at  this  time,  was  rather  metaphysical 
than  practical,  and  only  sharpened  the  discussions  of  the 
clerical  gatherings  of  the  Association. 

The  character  of  Mr.  Sanford  is  thus  set  forth  by  one  who 
was  his  intimate  friend  and  acquaintance  for  forty  years.* 

"  The  Author  of  nature  endowed  Mr.  Sanford  with  a  rich 
variety  of  rare  and  superior  talents.  He  possessed  a  quick 
apprehension,  a  clear  and  sound  judgment,  a  lively  imagina 
tion,  and  an  uncommon  knowledge  of  human  nature.  These 
intellectual  powers,  sanctified  by  Divine  grace,  fitted  him  to 
shine  with  peculiar  lustre  in  every  branch  of  his  ministerial 
office.  But  perhaps  he  appeared  to  the  best  advantage  as  a 
speaker.  He  had  a  piercing  eye,  a  significant  countenance, 
a  majestic  appearance,  and  a  strong,  clear,  melodious  voice, 
which  he  was  able  to  modulate  with  ease  and  propriety.  He 
was  able  to  move  any  passion  which  he  wished  to  move, 
whether  love  or  hatred,  hope  or  fear,  joy  or  sorrow.  He 
knew  every  avenue  to  the  human  heart,  and  could  make  the 
deepest  impressions  upon  it.  He  preached  with  great  plain 
ness  and  fidelity,  and  usually  extempore.  In  private  dis 
course  he  had  a  peculiar  talent  at  explaining  Scripture,  de 
tecting  error,  and  vindicating  truth.  He  was  often  called  to 
attend  the  ordination  of  ministers,  and  oftener  still  to  attend 
ecclesiastical  councils,  where  he  displayed  great  ability  and 
had  powerful  influence." 

12.    REV.    NATHANAEL    EMMONS,    D.    D. 

Was  the  sixth  son  and  twelfth  and  youngest  child  of  Dea. 
Samuel,  jr.  and  Ruth  (Cone)  Emmons.t  He  was  born  in  East 

*  Sec  Funeral  Sermon,  by  Rev.  N.  Emmons,  D.  D. 

t  Samuel  Emmons,  grandfather  of  Dr.  E.,  migrated  from  Cambridge 
and  joined  the  church  in  E.  Haddam,  with  his  wife,  15  October,  1705. 
He  had  three  sons,  Samuel,  Nathanacl,  and  Jonathan,  and  two  more 
children  born  in  E.  Haddam,  Ebenezer  and  Mehitabel. 

10 


110  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

Haddam,  Ct.,  1  May,  1745,  (N.  S.).  Graduated  at  Yale 
College,  1767,  and  A.  M. ;  also,  at  Dartmouth,  1786,. and 
D.  D.  1798  at  Dartmouth.  He  professed  religion  in  1769, 
and  commenced  the  study  of  theology  with  Rev.  Nathan 
Strong  of  Coventry,  Ct.,  and  completed  the  usual  course  with 
Rev.  John  Smalley,  D.  D.  of  Berlin.  He  was  licensed  by 
the  Hartford  South  Association,  3  Oct.  1769,  and  ordained 
over  the  church  in  Franklin,  21  April,  1773 ;  having  been 
hired  to  supply  the  pulpit  from  14  December  preceding. 

Discouraged  by  the  little  apparent  fruit  of  his  labors,  he 
twice  asked  a  dismission;  viz.  21  January,  1781,  and  20 
May,  1784;  which  were  each  most  wisely  refused  by  his 
attached  people.  In  1827,  May  13,  he  was  seized  with 
faintness  while  in  the  middle  of  his  sermon,  and  carried  to 

Dea.  Samuel  jr.  married  Ruth  Cone,  14  Sept.  1721.  Nathanael 
married  Elizabeth  Mills.  Samuel  jr.  lived  at  a  village  called  Bashan 
(Union  Factory).  His  twelve  children  were, 

1.  Dorothy,  b.  16  Sept.  1722  ;  m.  Enoch  Arnold  of  Millington. 

2.  Elizabeth,  b.  6  March,  1724;  m.  Peter  Spencer  of  Millington. 

3.  Ebenezer,  b.  18  Sept.  1725. 

4.  Samuel  jr.,  b.  20  Nov.  1727. 

5.  Mary,  b.  6  Feb.  1730  ;  not  married. 

6.  Daniel. 

7.  Infant  son. 

8.  Jonathan. 

9.  Hannah ;  married  a  Cowdry  of  Colchester. 

10.  Ruth  ;  married  Abner  Chapman  of  Colchester. 

11.  Sybel. 

12.  Nathanael,  b.  1  May,  1745. 

Dea.  E.  had  a  second  wife,  Rachel.  Her  tombstone  is,  "  Mrs.  Rachel, 
wife  of  Ens.  Samuel  Jones,  2d,  wife  of  Dr.  Benjamin  Knceland,  3d,  wife 
of  Mr.  Nathaniel  Mann,  4th,  wife  of  Samuel  Emmons.  died  25  Feb. 
1776."  Dea.  E..died  about  1767. 

The  minister  of  Dr.  Emmons's  boyhood  was  Rev.  Timothy  Symmes. 
He  had  two  sons,  John  Cloves  and  Timothy.  John  C.  Symmes  was 
judge  in  N.  J.,  and  his  daughter  was  wife  of  Gen.AV.  H.  Harrison. 
His  second  son,  Timothy,  was  father  to  Capt.  John  C.  Symmes,  famous 
for  his  ;;  Theory  of  the  Earth." 


REV.     NATHANAEL    EMMONS,    D.D.       Ill 

his  house.  He  so  far  recovered  as  to  finish  his  sermon  on 
the  following  Sabbath.  But  this  was  the  last  sermon  he 
preached.  The  second  Sabbath  following,  May  27,  1827, 
he  sent  a  note  resigning  his  pastoral  office,  and  requesting  a 
meeting  called  immediately  to  provide  for  a  supply  of  the 
pulpit.  Though  speedily  recovering  his  former  vigor,  he 
would  not  recall  his  determination ;  meaning,  he  said,  '  to 
retire  while  he  had  sense  enough  to  do  it.'  His  retirement 
was  spent  in  converse,  reading,  and  revision  of  some  of  his 
sermons.  He  died  23  September,  1840,  in  the  96th  year 
of  his  age,  and  the  68th  from  the  commencement  of  his 
ministry  in  Franklin. 

A  granite  pyramid  on  a  granite  base  is  raised  to  his 
memory  in  the  centre  of  Franklin  common,  —  over  which  he 
went  to  the  house  of  God  for  nearly  seventy  years,  —  and 
bears  this  simple  inscription  :  — 

N,  EMMONS,  D,  D. 

AGED   06. 

His  tomb-stone  over  his  grave  in  the  church-yard,  where 
his  dust  rests  with  that  of  his  family,  is  inscribed  as  follows  : 

TO    THE   MEMORY    OF 

REV.  NATHANAEL  EMMONS,  D.D. 

PASTOR    OF    THE    CHURCH    IN   FRANKLIN  : 
BORN   MAY    1,    1745. 

ORDAINED  APRIL  21,  1773. 

DIED   SEPTEMBER   23,    184O, 

In  the  96th  year  of  his  age,  and  the  68th  of  his  ministry. 

THE    TRUTHS    OP    THE    GOSPEL, 

And  the  duties  of  his  sacred  calling, 

WERE   HIS   DELIGHT. 

He  "  meditated  on  these  things,  gave  himself  wholly  to  them, 

AND  HIS  PROFITING  APPEARED  TO  ALL." 


112  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

In  1775,  April  6,  Dr.  Emmons  married  Deliverance 
French,  of  Braintree.  She  died  22  June,  1778,  and  their 
two  infant  sons  soon  followed,  on  the  same  day,  8  Sept.  1778. 
He  again  married,  4  November,  1779,  Martha,  daughter  of 
Rev.  Chester  Williams,  of  Hadley,*  by  whom  he  had  two 
sons  and  four  daughters. 

1.  Martha,  married  Willard  Gay,  Esq.  of  Dedham. 

2.  Deliverance,  died  3  June,  1813. 

3.  Sarah,  died  January,  1823. 

4.  Mary,  married  Rev.  Jacob  Ide,  D.  D.,  and  still  sur 
vives.     Of  the  sons,  the  eldest, 

Williams,  graduated  B.  U.  1805  ;  tutor  until  1808  ;  mar 
ried  Eunice  Wilde  of  Dedharn,  and  is  now  judge  in  Augusta, 
Maine. 

2.  Erastus,  Maj.  aid-de-camp  to  .Gen.  Crane;  died  13 
March,  1820.  Mrs.  Emmons  died  2  August,  1829,  and  Dr. 
E.  married  Mrs.  Abigail  M.  Mills,  18  Sept.  1831.  She  was 
daughter  of  Capt.  Judah  Moore,  sister  of  Rev.  Z.  S.  Moore, 
D.  D.,  President  of  Amherst  College,  and  the  widow  of 
Rev.  Winslow  Packard,  of  Wilmington,  Vt.,  and  afterwards 
widow  of  Rev.  Edmund  Mills,  of  Sutton.  She  now  resides 
in  Auburn  Dale,  Newton,  still  able  to  attend  and  enjoy  the 
public  worship  of  God,  although  90  years  of  age. 

Of  the  labors  and  character  of  Dr.  Emmons,  it  is  unneces 
sary  to  speak.  His  published  works,  more  extensively 
circulated  than  this  brief  notice  can  be,  are  sufficient  ex 
ponents  of  his  character  and  sentiments.f 

*  Rev.  C.  Williams  left  five  children,  three  of  them  daughters.  His 
widow  was  married  to  Rev.  Samuel  Hopkins,  his  successor,  who  had 
nine  children.  Of  this  family  of  fourteen  children,  were  Rev. 
Nathaniel  Williams,  of  Brimfield,  and  the  wives  of  Rev.  Dr.  Emmons, 
of  Rev.  Dr.  Spring  of  Newburyport,  of  Rev.  Leonard  Worcester  of 
Peacham,  Vt.,  of  Rev.  Dr.  Austin  of  Worcester,  and  Rev.  Wm.  Riddell 
of  Bernardstown. 

t  As  a  valuable  contribution  towards  a  complete  idea  of  Dr.  Emmons's 
intellectual  character,  and  as  an  interesting  literary  morceau,  the 


REV.    NATHANAEL    EMMONS,   D.D.       113 

Of  his  labors,  the  following  extract,  —  taken  from  the 
records  of  the  Association,  —  may  be  interesting  :  — 

"  He  attended  thirty  councils  called  for  advice.  He  re 
ceived  seventy-Jive  calls  to  attend  ordinations  and  installations, 
as  a  member  of  councils,  in  six  different  States,  fifty-four  of 
which  he  attended.  At  twenty-five  of  these,  he  was  the 
preacher.  His  publications  during  his  ministry  were,  four 
dissertations  on  important  subjects  ;  nearly  sixty  single  occa 
sional  sermons,  delivered  in  different  places,  and  published 
by  request  of  hearers  ;  and  one  hundred  and  thirty-one  ser 
mons  in  six  detached  volumes.  In  addition  to  these,  he 
wrote  largely  for  several  of  the  periodicals  of  4he  day,  some 
of  which  were  almost  wholly  sustained  by  him.  And  such 
were  his  industry  and  resolution,  that,  together  with  all  these 
labors  and  all  his  parochial  duties,  including  his  weekly 
preparations  for  the  sanctuary,  he  read  all  the  distinguished 
books  of  his  day  which  came  within  his  reach.  And  he 
generally  had  under  his  tuition  one  or  more  students  in 
theology,  till  the  infirmities  of  age  rendered  it  necessary  for 
him  to  decline  the  labor.  The  whole  number  of  students 

author  ventures  to  insert  the  following  poetic  effusion.     They  are  the 
only  rhyme  which  Dr.  E.  is  known  to  have  written. 

"  My  thoughts  I  can  with  ease  disclose 

In  plain,  and  pure,  and  perfect  prose  ; 

But  give  me  e'er  so  much  of  time, 

I  cannot  make  a  single  rhyme. 

No  reason  I  could  ever  find 

Why  nature  did  so  frame  my  mind, 

But  that  it  were  to  check  my  pride, 

And  give  me  reason  for  my  guide. 

This  guide  ne'er  led  a  man  astray, 

Who  heard  its  voice  and  did  obey. 

But  there  is  something  I  deem  higher, 

To  which  I  always  will  aspire,  — 

To  lead  mankind  to  fear  and  love 

The  God  who  lives  and  reigns  above." 

10* 


114     BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

whom  he  thus  assisted  in  their  preparation  for  the  ministerial 
office,  was  eighty-six." 

As  was  the  custom  in  his  clay,  Dr.  Emmons  seldom 
visited  his  parishioners,  unless  they  were  sick  or  in  affliction. 
In  the  latter  part  of  his  ministry,  the  writer  remembers  that 
he  called  annually,  and  perhaps  oftener,  when  the  members 
of  the  family  were  assembled,  enquiries  made  after  the 
temporal  and  spiritual  welfare,  and  maxims  of  wisdom 
dropped,  which  are  still  remembered.  Also,  in  May  annu 
ally,  the  children  were  invited  to  meet  him  in  their  respective 
school-houses,  where  they  were  '  catechised,'  and  exhorted, 
and  prayed  with,  by  this  venerable  puritan  minister.  Those 
gatherings,  and  his  appearance  and  words  are  forever  fresh 
in  recollection.  The  portrait  of  him  in  his  published  works 
very  exactly  reflects  the  image  engraven  in  the  minds  of  that 
generation ;  lacking,  may  be,  the  vivacious  flash  of  quick 
intelligence  and  sympathy.  The  '  works  '  themselves  have 
engraved  his  theological  likeness  upon  a  multitude  of  minds, 
and  will  continue  to  multiply  resemblances  until  earthly 
teachers  cease,  and  we  sit  down  together  at  the  feet  of 
Him  in  whom  are  hid  all  treasures  of  wisdom  and  know 
ledge. 

A  list  of  Dr.  Emmons's  students,  as  found  amongst  his 
papers,  is  here  inserted.  They  are  riot  recorded  in  the  order 
of  time,  and  were  therefore  probably  written  down  towards 
the  close  of  his  life,  from  memory.  The  list  does  not  evi 
dently  include  all  who  resorted  to  him  for  theological  instruc 
tion.  Some  of  these  were  with  him  but  a  short  time  :  at  the 
beginning  or  close  of  their  preparation  for  the  ministry. 
Some  did  not  enter  the  ministry  at  all,  but  studied  for  their 
own  benefit.  The  list  is  copied  without  alteration ;  their  place 
of  settlement  is  added,  when  known.  Those  starred  were 
approbated  by  this  Association,  and  will  be  found  in  their 
proper  place :  — 


DR.   E  M  M  0  N  8'S   STUDENTS.  115 

*  Josiah  Reed,  Uxbridge. 

Daniel  Farrington,  Wrentham  ;  never  settled. 

*  Jacob  Cram,  Hampton  Falls. 

*  Read  Page,  Hard  wick. 

*  Walter  Harris,  New  Lebanon,  N.  II. 

*  Elias  Dudley,  Newport,  N.  II. 

Ariel  Parish,  Plainfield,  Ct. :  settled  in  Manchester. 

*  Royal  Tyler,  Uxbridge. 

Pierson  Thurston,  Lancaster  ;  s.  in  Somersworth,  N.  H., 

and  St.  Johnsbury,  Vt. 

Thomas  Moore,  Lancaster  ;  s.  in  Wiscasset,  Me.  ? 
Nathan  Church,  South  Hadley  ;  s.  in  Bridgton,  Me. 

*  Herman  Daggett,  Wrentham. 

*  Josiah  Holbrook,  Wrentham. 

James  Tufts,  Oakham ;  s.  in  Wolfsboro',  N.  H.,  and  Do 
ver,  N.  H. 
Josiah  Graves,  Sunderland  ;  deacon  in  Amherst. 

*  John  Fitch,  Hopkinton. 
Eleazer  Taft,  Waltham. 

Phinehas  Taft,  Braintree  ;  died  before  settlement. 

*  Nathaniel  Hall,  Sutton. 

William  Riddell,  Colerain ;  s.  in  Bristol,  Me. 
John  Smith,  Palmer ;  s.  in  Haverill,  N.  H. 

*  Eli  Smith,  Belchertown. 

*  Abijah  Wines,  Newport,  N.  H. 

*  John  Bowers  Preston,  N.  Jersey. 

*  Nathaniel  Ogden,  N.  Jersey. 
Thomas  Thompson,  Newbury. 

John  Simpkins,  Boston  ;  s.  in  Brewster. 

*  Samuel  Judson,  Woodbury,  Ct. 

*  John  Morse,  Medway. 

Jonathan  Ward,  Plymouth,  N.  H. ;  s.  in  Brentwood, 
N.  H. 

*  William  Jackson,  Wallingford,  N.  H. 

*  Enoch  Pond,  Wrentham. 


116     BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

Caleb  Blake,  Wrentham  ;  s.  in  "Westford. 

*  Kiah  Bailey,  Haverill,  N.  H. 

Calvin  Chaddock,  Oakham  ;  s.  in  Hanover. 

*  Nathaniel  Howe,  Linebrook. 

Timothy    Clark,    Wallingford,    Ct. ;    s.  in  Greenfield, 
N.  H. 

*  Benjamin  Wood,  New  Lebanon,  N.  H. 

*  Nathan  Holman,  Sutton. 

*  Joseph  Rowell,  Newton,  N.  H. 

*  Druiy  Fairbanks,  Holliston. 

Samuel  Fowler  Dickinson,  Amherst ;  Lawyer  in  Am- 

herst. 
William  Salisbury,  Braintree;  s.  in  N.  Y.  State. 

*  Joseph  Emerson,  Hollis,  N.  H. 

Oliver  Ayers,  Franklin,  Ct. ;  s.  in  Augusta,  N.  Y. 
Samuel  Brown,  Kingston,  N.  H. 

*  Joseph  Cheney,  Holden. 

*  Nathan  Waldo,  Orange,  N.  H. 

Abel  Farley,  Hollis,  N.  H. ;  s.  in  Manchester,  N.  H. 

*  Levi  Nelson,  Milford. 

*  William  Warren,  New  Ipswich,  N.  H. 

Edward  Whipple,  New  Braintree  :  s.  at  Charlton  and 

Shrewsbury. 

David  Jewett,  Hollis,  N.  H. ;  s.  in  Gloucester. 
Gordon  Johnson,  Farmington,  Ct. ;  s.  at  West  Killingly, 

Ct. 
Nathaniel  Kendrick,  Hanover,  N.  H. 

*  Gaius  Conant,  Braintree. 

Spalding,  Westford  ;  s.  in  Penobscot,  Me.  ? 

Truman  Baldwin,  Granville  ;  s.  at  Pompey,  N.  Y. 
Luke  Wood,  Somers,  Ct ;  s.  in  Waterbury,  and  West- 
ford,  Ct. 

*  Thomas  Williams,  Pomfret,  Ct. 

George  Hall,  E.  Haddam,  Ct.;  s.  at  Cherry  Valley, 
N.Y. 


REV.    ELIJAH    FITCH.  117 

Roswell  R.  Swan,  Stonington,  Ct. ;  s.  in  Norwalk,  Ct. 

*  Stephen  Chapin,  Milford. 

Bela  Kellogg,  Amherst ;  s.  2d  Ch.  Avon,  Ct. 

*  David  Holman,  Sutton. 

-  Fisher,  -       — ,  N.  H. 
Christopher  Webb,  Weymouth ;  Mass.  Senate,  died  in 

Weymouth. 
Artemas  Dean,  Taunton  ;  s.  in  Rome,  N.  Y. 

*  Sherman  Johnson,  Southboro'. 

Bancroft  Fowler,  Pittsfield  ;  Prof,  at  Bangor. 

Dickinson  Fowler,  Amherst. 

Ebenezer  Burgess,  Wareham ;  s.  at  Dedham. 

*  John  B.  Wight,  Bristol,  R.  I. 

*  Elnathan  Walker,  Taunton. 

Thaddeus  Osgood, ;  Missionary  in  Canada. 

*  Enoch  Pond,  North  Wrentham. 

*  Emerson  Paine,  Mansfield. 

Alexander  Metcalf   Fisher,  Franklin ;  Math.  Prof,  at 
Yale  College. 

*  Willard  Holbrook,  Sutton. 

*  Moses  Partridge,  Bellingham. 

*  William  Tyler,  Pawtucket. 

*  Abel  Manning,  Holden. 

*  Sewall  Harding,  Medvvay. 

*  David  Brigham,  Westborough. 

*  Zolva  Whitmore,  East  Haddam,  Ct. 

*  Jonathan  Longley,  Boylston. 

13.    REV.    ELIJAH   FITCH, 

The  son  of  Capt.  John  Fitch,  was  born  in  Windham,  Ct., 
1746,  graduated  at  Yale  college,  1765,  and  A.  M. ;  and  also 
at  Harvard,  1770.  He  preached  in  Franklin  some  time  af 
ter  Mr.  Barnum's  dismission  ;  but  settled,  ultimately,  in  Hop- 


118      BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

kinton,  15  Jan.,  1772,  as  colleague  with  Rev.  Samuel  Barrett. 
In  Dec.  11,  Mr.  Barrett  died,  and  left  Mr.  Fitch  sole  pastor 
of  the  church,  which  office  he  filled  until  his  death,  16  Dec., 
1788,"in  his  43d  year  and  the  17th  of  his  ministry. 

Mr.  Fitch  married  Hannah  Fuller,  who  survived  him  and 
died  7  Feb.,  1824,  aged  80.  He  left  five  children  alive  at 
his  death. 

1.  A  daughter,  who  died  about  1793. 

2.  John,  Rev.  (see  Licentiates,  No.  28). 

3.  A  daughter,  resident  at  Hopkinton. 

4.  Elijah,  Dea.  in  Hopkinton,  d.  27  Apl.,  1847,  aged  68. 

5.  Betsey,  married  Rev.  Nathanael  Rawson  (Licentiates, 
No.  52). 

Mr.  Fitch  "  was  a  man  of  great  powers  of  mind.  He 
possessed  a  sound  judgment.  He  was  somewhat  reserved 
in  mixed  companies,  but  in  the  pulpit  he  was  remarkably 
eloquent.  He  was  unassuming  ;  a  man  of  meekness  and 
candor ;  a  man  of  humility  and  benevolence  ;  he  was  patient, 
industrious,  and  persevering.  His  life  spent  in  one  con 
tinual  series  of  exertion  for  the  good  of  his  church,  people, 
and  family.  He  was  not  rigid  in  his  religious  opinions  ;  he 
was  considered  a  moderate  Calvinist. 

"  No  man  ever  more  feelingly  participated  in  the*  happi 
ness  or  misery  of  his  fellow  men,  than  he  ;  or  better  filled  the 
several  offices  of  pastor,  husband,  parent,  friend,  neighbor, 
and  townsman."  He  was  a  fine  scholar  and  poet.  He  left 
a  poem,  of  several  cantos,  in  blank  verse,  entitled  the  *  Beau 
ties  of  Religion,'  addressed  to  the  young,  which  contains 
passages  of  poetic  merit.  He  published  a  Sermon  on  the 
Evacuation  of  Boston,  1776. 

"  Two  years  before  his  death,  he  was  unable  to  preach 
through  the  winter.  But  in  the  spring  he  partially  recovered, 
and  was  able  to  preach  until  the  April  preceding  his  death.* 

*  Century  Sermon,  by  Rev.  N.  Howe,  fourth  edition. 


REV.    JOSIAH    SPALDING.  119 


14.    RET.    JOSIAH   SrALDING 

Was  born  in  Plainfield,  Ct.,  10  Jan.,  1751,  graduated  at 
Yale  college,  1778,  and  A.  M.,  approbated  to  preach  the  Gos 
pel,  1780.  He  was  ordained  at  Uxbridge,  11  Sept.,  1782, 
and,  on  account  of  some  dissatisfaction  in  the  church,  was 
dismissed  23  Oct.,  1787.  The  council  say  :  "they  view  Mr. 
Spalding's  Christian  character  in  a  fair  and  amiable  light, 
and  hope  Christ  will  use  him  as  an  instrument  of  speedily 
building  up  his  Gospel  and  promoting  his  cause  in  the  world." 

Mr.  Spalding  was  next  installed  in  Worthington,  21  Aug., 
1788,  and  dismissed  March,  1794.  He  left  there  with  the 
reputation  of  being  '  sound  in  doctrine,  but  very  eccentric.'* 
He  was  next  settled  in  Buckland,  in  1794,  where  he  re 
mained  until  his  death,  8  May,  1823,  at  the  age  of  72  years, 
41  of  which  he  spent  in  the  ministry;  viz.  5  years  in  Uxbridge, 
6^  in  Worthington,  and  28J  years  in  Buckland. 

"  His  ministry  in  Buckland,"  says  his  successor,  "  was  a 
successful  one.  There  were  several  seasons  of  special  re 
ligious  interest  during  his  ministry,  the  last  of  which  was 
the  year  before  he  died,  when  there  was  probably  the  most 
powerful  revival  ever  enjoyed  among  this  people.  In  1799, 
there  were  17  admitted  to  the  church  at  one  time  ;  in  1807, 
12  at  one  time  ;  and  8  at  one  time  in  the  following  year;  16 
were  admitted  at  once  in  1816,  and  in  1822,  65  were  admit 
ted,  among  which  number  was  Miss  Mary  Lyon. 

"  Mr.  Spalding  was  a  sound  doctrinal  preacher,  who  in 
structed  his  people  well  in  the  great  truths  of  the  Bible, 
and  laid  the  foundations  so  thoroughly  that  they  remain  to 
this  day.  The  fruits  of  his  ministry  still  exist  in  the  church, 
and  they  form  its  strongest  pillars.  Unitarianism  never  found 
a  place  here  (in  Buckland),  and  we  need  not  look  any  far 
ther  than  to  the  labors  of  such  a  man,  to  account  for  it. 

*  Letter  of  Rev.  J.  W.  Bisbce,  Worthington. 


120  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

"  As  a  preacher,  his  manner  was  rather  dull  and  uninter 
esting  ;  but  what  he  lacked  in  manner,  he  made  up  in  matter. 

"  On  his  death-bed,  he  was  visited  by  some  of  his  people, 
who  came  to  confess  some  wrong  they  had  done  him.  He 
felt  that  he  could  not  die  without  an  interview.  When  it 
was  over,  he  said  he  could  die  in  peace.  "  His  memory  still 
lives  among  the  people.  They  looked  up  to  him  as  their  fa 
ther  ;  and  when  they  now  speak  of  him,  they  usually  give 
him  the  title  of '  father.' 

Mr.  Spalding  published  several  sermons  during  his  min 
istry.  He  also  issued  a  volume  entitled,  "  Universalism 
destroys  itself,"  which  is  among  the  references  in  the  An- 
dover  Course  of  Theological  Study.  It  enters  into  a  mi 
nute  and  extensive  examination  of  the  original  words  used 
in  the  Scriptures  in  reference  to  the  duration  of  future  pun 
ishment.  It  cost  much  labor,  at  a  time  when  few  helps  ex 
isted  for  such  researches.  He  had  another  work  in  readiness 
at  his  death,  but  the  manuscript  is  now  lost. 

Mr.  Spalding  married  Martha  Williams,  daughter  of 
Judge  Williams,  of  Taunton,  who  died  a  few  months  before 
him.  They  had  Jive  children,  —  four  daughters,  and  one 
son,  Josiah.  Three  of  the  daughters  married  and  left  de 
scendants.  But  a  melancholy  interest  gathers  over  the  son. 
"  Bearing  his  father's  name,  the  pride  of  his  parents,  and  de 
signed  by  them  for  the  ministry,  he  has  been  a  raving  maniac 
for  forty-four  years.  He  is  now  almost  65.  For  some  two 
years  after  he  became  deranged,  he  was  not  confined ;  but 
his  father's  life  was  repeatedly  endangered,  and  he  was 
chained  for  some  two  years.  For  the  last  forty  years,  he  has 
been  shut  up  in  a  cage.  No  clothing  can  be  kept  on  him. 
He  remains  constantly  in  a  sitting  posture,  with  a  blanket 
wrapped  about  him,  and  only  leans  back  against  the  cage 
when  he  sleeps.  He  has  remained  in  this  position  so  long, 
that  his  limbs  cannot  be  straightened. 

"Before  he  became  deranged,  he  had  been  for  many 
months  in  an  interesting  state  of  mind,  and  his  parents  enter- 


D.D.  121 

tained  a  hope  for  him.  He  was  nearly  or  quite  prepared  to 
enter  college,  and  was  teaching  school  when  the  first  signs  of 
insanity  appeared.  He  appears  to  become  more  and  more 
demented."*  Strange  are  the  ways  of  Providence  !  and  con 
tradictory  now ;  but  radiant  hereafter,  and  admirable  to  the 
student  in  heaven ! 

15.    REV.   JOHN    CRANE,   D.  D. 

The  son  of  John  and  Rachel  (Terry)  Crane,  was  born  in 
Norton,  26  March,  1756.  His  parents  belonged  to  the  soci 
ety  of  Friends.f  He  graduated  at  Harvard,  1780,  and  A.  M.; 
also  A.  M.,  1792,  and  S.  T.  D.,  1803,  from  Brown  Univer 
sity  ;  studied  theology  with  Dr.  Emmons  ;  and,  in  1782,  was 
invited  by  the  society  in  Northbridge  to  preach  as  a  candi 
date.  Soon  after,  a  church  was  gathered,  and  he  received  a 
regular  call  to  settle  over  the  church  and  society,  in  the  work 
of  the  ministry.  He  accepted  it,  and  was  ordained  over  the 
first  church  in  Northbridge,  25  June,  1783.  He  died  in  the 
ministry,  31  Aug.  1836,  aged  80  years,  and  in  the  54th  of 
his  pastorate,  j 

Dr.  Crane  married  Miss  Rachel  Taft,  of  Northbridge  i 
by  whom  he  had  three  children,  daughters.  The  eldest, 
Rachel,  was  married  to  Rev.  Ezekiel  Rich. 

The  second,  Susan,  was  married  to  Abel  Jaquis,  Esq.,  of 

*  Letter  of  Kev.  A.  B.  Smith,  Buckland. 

t  John  Crane  Sen.  was  born  in  Berkley,  1732,  moved  to  Norton  about 
1750,  and  died  April,  1800.  His  wife  was  of  Freetown.  She  died,  1821. 

Their  children  were  John  (above),  George,  b.  8  Nov.,  1758,'Rachel,  b. 
12  Sept.,  1761,  Calver,b.  13  May,  1764,  Hannah,  b.  18  June,  1766,  Terry, 
b.  28  April,  1774. 

J  "  Dr.  C.  resigned  his  charge,  14  March,  1832,  but  continued  nominal 
pastor,  until  his  death.  On  the  first  Sabbath  in  May,  1835,  —  about  a 
year  before  his  death, — he  preached  his  last  sermon  in  the  old  meeting 
house,  in  which  he  had  ministered  for  half  a  century  (just  before  it  was 
taken  down),  from  thistext :  "  The  prayers  of  David,  the  son  of  Jesse, 
are  ended." — Rev.  W.  Bates,  Northbridge. 


122  BI  0  GB  APHI  C  AL   SK  ET  C  H  E  S  . 

Worcester.  The  third,  Hannah,  was  married  to  Rev.  John 
Taylor,  late  of  Shutesbury,  but  who  now  leads  a  private  life 
in  Northbridge,  on  the  paternal  farm.* 

"  Dr.  Crane  had  a  strong  and  penetrating  and  well  cultiva 
ted  mind.  He  was  cordially  attached  the  great  and  distin 
guishing  doctrines  of  the  Gospel,  and  never  shunned  to  de 
clare  the  whole  council  of  God."  "  It  was  a  settled  maxim 
with  him,  always  to  preach  the  truth  in  that  clear,  plain  and 
simple  style  which  even  children  could  understand.  He  says 
in  one  of  his  sermons,  "  I  have  aimed  to  preach  the  doctrines 
of  the  Gospel  in  as  plain  a  manner  as  I  could.  I  have  tried 
to  make  Divine  truth  bear  upon  the  heart  and  the  conscience. 
I  have  studied  to  send  away  my  hearers  dissatisfied  with 
themselves." 

"  Dr.  Crane  was  not  only  a  plain,  practical  and  pungent 
preacher,  but  he  was  decidedly  orthodox.  He  embraced  sub 
stantially,  what  have  been  called  the  doctrines  of  the  Reform 
ation.  The  free  moral  agency  of  man,  the  entire  depravity 
of  the  human  heart,  the  Sovereignty  of  God  in  the  election 
of  grace,  the  necessity  of  regeneration  by  the  Spirit  of  God, 
the  perseverance  of  the  Saints,  the  resurrection  of  the  dead, 
and  a  general  and  final  judgment,  formed  the  great  outlines 
of  that  system  which  he  believed  and  preached.  This  system 
of  doctrines  he  believed,  not  merely  because  they  had  been 
embraced  and  ably  advocated  by  Luther  and  Calvin  and 
Edwards  and  Bellamy  and  Hopkins  and  Dwight  and  Em- 
mons :  but  because  they  appeared  to  him  to  be  the  great  truths 
taught  by  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  and  his  inspired  Apostles."f 

#  At  was  the  fashion  of  those  times,  Dr.  Crane  carried  on  a  large 
farm,  on  which,  during  the  latter  part  of  his  ministry,  he  engaged  daily 
with  his  hired  men.  For  many  years,  his  cider-mill  was  the  only  one  in 
the  parish,  and  all  his  people  were  dependent  on  him  for  their  cider  ! 
Happy  the  minister  who  could  so  easily  cut  off  such  supplies  !! 

t  Extract  from  Funeral.  Sermon  by  Rev.  D.  Holman,  Douglas,  in 
B.  Recorder,  No.  1141. 


REV.   JOHN   CRANE,   D.    D.  123 

"  Dr.  Crane  was  very  active  and  laborious.  Besides  his 
pastoral  and  ministerial  labors,  he  instructed  many  youth  at 
a  school  in  his  own  house,  which  he  kept  for  many  years. 
In  his  half-century  sermon  he  says,  *  The  fifty  years  which  I 
have  passed  in  this  place  have  been  full  of  labor  and  hurry. 
I  was  employed  more  than  thirty  years  in  teaching  youth. 
I  have  instructed  more  than  a  hundred  young  men  in  their 
preparation  for  admission  to  college.*  I  have  written  about 
four  thousand  sermons,  and  probably  delivered  about  two 
hundred  extempore  discourses.' " 

Several  revivals  marked  his  ministry.  In  1800,  27  were 
added  to  the  church  ^  in  1809,  28  were  added.  In  1829-30, 
about  30  were  joined  to  the  followers  of  Christ.  In  1831, 
almost  70  were  gathered  into  the  fold. 

"  Dr.  Crane  published  several  occasional  discourses,  which 
show  not  only  strength  of  mind  and  maturity  of  judgment, 
but  also  a  familiar  acquaintance  with  the  Holy  Scriptures, 
and  the  great  and  essential  truths  of  our  holy  religion."  His 
chapter  in  the  '  Mendon  Evidences,'  indicates  the  extent  of 
his  studies  and  the  power  of  his  logic.  The  titles  of  some 
of  his  published  productions  are  as  follows  :  — 

1.  Thanksgiving  Sermon,  1800.  2.  Two  Fast  Sermons 
on  Civil  Liberty.  3.  Ordination  Sermon  of  Rev.  Calvin 
Park,  D.  D.,  at  Franklin,  1815.  4.  Ordination  Sermon  of 
Rev.  Ezekiel  Rich.  5.  Ordination  Sermon  of  Rev.  John 
Taylor,  at  Shutesbury.  6.  Two  Sermons  on  the  Nature  and 
Design  of  John's  Baptism.  7.  Lecture  on  Sacred  Music,  at 
Sutton.  8.  Fourth  of  July  Oration,  at  Douglas.  9.  "  Rea 
sons  why  I  am  not  a  Baptist :  By  Bickerstaff." 

*  Among  them  were  Rev.  Dr.  Hawes,  of  Hartford,  Ct.,  Rev. 
Willard  Preston,  D.  D.,  of  Savannah,  Ga.,  and  Rev.  Cyrus  Kingsbury, 
Missionary  to  the  Choctaws.  Dr.  Crane  represented  the  town  of  North- 
bridge  for  several  years  in  the  General  Court. 


124  BIOGRAPHICAL     SKETCHES 


16.   REV.   DAVID    AVERT 

Was  born  5  April,  1746,  in  that  part  of  Norwich,  Ct.,  now 
forming  the  town  of  Franklin.  His  parents  were  John  and 
Lydia  (Smith)  Avery.*  He  was  converted  to  God  at  about 
twenty  years  of  age,  under  the  preaching  of  Whitefield.  Fit 
ted  for  college  at  Dr.  Wheelock's  school,  in  Lebanon,  Ct. 
Entered  Yale  College  a  year  in  advance,  and  graduated  1769, 
A.  M.  in  course,  and  also  at  Dartmouth,  1773.  Employed 
in  his  vacations  teaching  Indian  schools.  Studied  theology 
with  Rev.  Dr.  E.  Wheelock  of  Dartmouth  Coll.  Preached  a 
short  time  on  Long  Island  as  a  licentiate.  Was  soon  ordained, 
probably  at  Dartmouth,  29  August,  1771,  as  missionary  to 
the  Oneida  Indians,  and  colleague  with  Rev.  Mr.  Kirkland, 
father  of  President  Kirkland  of  Harvard  University. 

He  was  compelled  to  leave  this  field  of  labor  by  a  bad  fall 
upon  the  ice,  when  he  returned  to  New  England.  After 
preaching  in  different  places,  he  was  installed  at  Gageboro', 
now  Windsor,  25  March,  1773,  and  dismissed  14  April, 
1777,t  to  go  as  chaplain  in  the  army.  On  his  return  he  was 
settled  at  Bennington,  Vt.,  3  May,  1780,  and  dismissed  17 
June,  1783  ;  again  settled  at  Wrentham,  25  May,  1786  ;  and 

*  The  first  of  the  paternal  line  in  New  England  was  John  Avery,  a 
Scotchman,  who  with  his  Avife  and  children, — four  sons  and  several 
daughters,  —  settled  in  Truro,  where  he  died.  Two  of  the  sons  settled 
in  Connecticut,  from  one  of  which  Rev.  Mr.  A.  descended.  John 
Avery,  former  Secretary  of  the  state  of  Massachusetts,  and  also  Rev. 
Dr.  Griffin.  President  of  Wms.  Coll.,  were  cousins  of  Rev.  David 
Avery.  See  Letter  of  W.  H.  Smith,  Esq.,  Prov.  R.  I.  The  first 
minister  of  Truro  was  Rev.  John  Avery,  son  of  Robert,  and  grandson 
of  Doct.  William  Avery  of  Dedhatn.  Was  he  the  same  person  ?  See 
notice  of  the  Avery  family,  by  W.  R.  Deane,  Boston. 

t  His  commission  was  dated  18  April,  1776.  He  resigned  it  1  Feb. 
1780.  He  was  attached  to  Col.  Sherborn's  regiment,  Continental 
army.  Served  from  15  Feb.,  1777,  to  5  March,  1780.  —  Slate  Records. 


REV.    DAVID    AVERY.  125 

after  many  councils  and  much  difficulty,  dismissed  21  April, 
1704.  He  still  preached  to  a  congregation  at  North  Wrentham, 
where  a  church  was  organized  in  1795.  He  left  previous  to 
1798,  and  removed  his  family  to  a  farm  belonging  to  his  wife  in 
Mansfield,  now  Chaplin,  Ct.,  and  employed  himself  in  preach 
ing  in  vacant  places  in  Connecticut,  Massachusetts,  and  Ver 
mont.  He  performed  two  missionary  tours  in  the  western 
frontiers  of  New  York,  and  one  in  Maine,  under  the  direc 
tion  of  the  Massachusetts  Domestic  Missionary  Society.* 
He  afterwards  gathered  a  new  church  and  society,  called  the 
Union  Church,  in  Chaplin,  Ct.,  to  which  he  preached  from 
1798  to  1801.  In  1817,  October  28,  he  visited  his  daughter, 
Mrs.  Hewett,  then  resident  in  Shepardstown,  Va.,  where, 
and  in  the  vicinity,  he  preached  a  few  weeks.  He  received 
a  cordial  and  unanimous  call  to  settle  in  Middletown,  fifteen 
miles  from  Shepardstown,  where  he  was  taken  (on  the  even 
ing  of  a  day  of  fasting  preparatory  to  his  installation)  with 
the  typhus  fever,  of  which  he  died.  He  was  buried  on  the 
week  of  his  intended  installation,  the  clergy  of  the  invited 
council  officiating  as  his  bearers. 

Mr.  Avery  married,  10  Oct.,  1782,  Hannah  Chaplin, 
daughter  of  Dea.  Benjamin  Chaplin,  of  Mansfield,  Ct.  Her 
mother  was  Mary  Paine,  cousin  of  Judge  Robert  Treat 
Paine  of  Boston,  and  aunt  of  Judge  Elijah  Paine  of  Vermont. 
They  had  four  children :  1.  Mary  C.,  married  to  William 
H.  Smith,  Esq.,  and  still  living  at  Providence,  *R.  I. 

2.  David, jr. ;  graduated  at  Brown  University;  lawyer; 
married  Miss  Morgan,  and  resides  in  Hampton,  Ct. 

3.  Hannah,  married  to  Chester  D.  Clarke,  merchant  of 
Utica,  N.  Y. 

4.  Lydia  S.,  married  to  Lieut.  Thomas  Hewitt,  U.  S. 
Army ;    and  resided   in    Shepardstown,  Va.,   where    both 
deceased. 

*  Rev.  David  Avery  and  Rev.  Jacob  Cram,  (Licentiate,  No.  15,) 
were  the  first  missionaries  commissioned  by  the  Society. 

11* 


126      BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

The  following  list  comprises  his  publications  :  1.  Thanks 
giving  Sermon,  preached  before  the  Army,  1777.  2.  Ser 
mon,  on  bridling  the  Tongue,  Wrentham,  1779.  3.  Funeral 
Sermon  of  his  Father-in-Law,  Dea.  Benjamin  Chaplin, 
1795.  4.  Funeral  Sermon  of  Mr.  Walter  Moore. 

Mr.  Avery  is  said  to  have  been  tall,  portly,  commanding 
in  presence,  with  a  prominent  Roman  countenance.  His 
natural  disposition  was  generous  and  warm-hearted.  His 
manners  were  frank,  cordial,  humble,  and  dignified.  He 
was  emphatically  a  gentleman  of  the  old  school ;  and  when 
he  thought  occasion  demanded,  rigid  in  adherence  to  his 
opinions.  He  was  an  Edwardean  in  sentiment,  and  a 
Whitefieldian  in  warmth  of  manner :  although  he  differed 
from  the  Hopkinsians  on  some  minor  points.  He  preached 
extemporaneously  from  short  notes.  His  language  was 
copious,  and  at  times  too  diffuse.  His  voice  was  so  clear 
and  sonorous,  and  his  articulation  so  distinct,  that  it  was  a 
common  saying  in  the  army,  that  every  soldier  in  a  brigade 
could  hear  all  that  he  said. 

His  ministry  on  Long  Island  in  1771  appears  to  have 
been  remarkably  successful.  His  private  diary  for  that  year 
exhibits  earnest  longings  to  be  useful,  and  in  such  fields  of 
labor  as  God  should  see  fit. 

"Jan.  1,  1771.  Preached  at  Sag  Harbor,  a  new-year's 
sermon.  People  somewhat  solemn.  I  earnestly  desire  to 
begin  the  year  with  God,  and  in  entire  dedication  to  Him." 
—  "  Lord,  let  me  spend  and  be  spent  for  thee.  Dispose  of 
me  as  thou  pleasest ;  send  me  where  thou  pleasest ;  let  me 
have  no  will  of  mine  own,  —  or  let  my  will  be  thy  will. 

"  2.  Preached  to-day  to  a  solemn  assembly.  Had  some 
intimations  of  God's  presence. 

"  3.  This  evening  preached  to  a  very  solemn  assembly. 
Numbers  of  the  youth  in  tears  and  sighs. 

"  6.  Preached  to  an  attentive  audience  on  the  stoutness  of 
the  natural  heart.  Isa.  46 :  12." 


REV.    DAVID   AVERY.  127 

The  journal  of  his  chaplaincy  contains  many  facts  of 
interest.  His  connection  with  the  army  of  Washington  was 
intimate  and  of  considerable  continuance.  When  the  news 
of  the  battle  of  Lexington  reached  Gageboro',  Mr.  Avery's 
parishioners  assembled  in  arms,  formed  themselves  into  a 
company,  elected  him  for  their  captain,  and  on  Saturday,  22 
April,  after  devoutly  asking  God's  blessing  on  the  enterprise, 
marched  for  Cambridge.  They  spent  the  Sabbath  at  North 
ampton,  and  attended  public  worship.  Mr.  Avery  preached 
in  the  afternoon  from  Neh.  4 :  14.  Monday,  marched  on, 
and  arrived  at  Cambridge,  Saturday,  29,  where  they  were 
honorably  received  and  congratulated  by  the  troops  as 
sembled.  Next  day,  Sabbath,  Rev.  Dr.  Langdon,  a  chaplain 
in  the  army,  preached  on  a  temporary  stage  erected  in  the 
college  area  from  1  Tim.  G:  12.  In  the  r.  M.  Mr.  Avery 
preached  from  Neh.  4:14.  Monday,  Mr.  A.  commenced  a 
regular  course  of  morning  and  evening  prayer  with  the 
regiment  to  which  he  belonged.  Tuesday,  commenced 
visiting  and  praying  with  the  sick  and  wounded  regulars  in 
the  hospitals. 

May  11.  A  Province  Fast.  Preached  on  Cambridge 
Common. 

29.  Went  volunteer  with  an  expedition  to  Noddle's  Island. 
A  brisk  skirmish.  Stood  guard  two  hours  that  night  after 
praying  with  the  expedition. 

July  20.    Continental  fast  day.     Preached  to  the  troops. 

27.  Read  to  the  troops  the  Declaration  of  War  by  Con 
gress  against  General  Gage. 

Nov.  14.  "My  people,  (of  Gageboro',)  consented  that  I 
should  engage  in  the  next  campaign,  and  the  neighboring 
ministers  kindly  agreed  to  supply  my  pulpit  two-thirds  of  the 
time  of  my  absence." 

Dec.  31.  Exhorted  the  troops  to  repent  of  their  past  sins, 
and  begin  the  new  year  with  new  hearts  and  lives,  and  to  be 
faithful  in  the  service  of  God  and  their  country." 


128      BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

Mr.  Avery  often  acted  as  physician  and  assistant  surgeon. 
He  was  at  the  taking  of  Burgoyne,  the  capture  of  the  Hes 
sians  at  Trenton,  and  in  the  battle  of  Princeton.  When 
settled  at  Bennington,  at  the  request  of  the  Governor  and 
Council  of  Vermont,  he  took  the  field  with  General  Allen, 
and  was  in  the  battle  of  Bennington,  and  assisted  in  dressing 
the  wounds  of  the  soldiery. 

Mr.  Avery  had  fourteen  cousins  of  the  name  of  Avery  in 
Groton  Fort,  who  were  all  massacred  except  one,  and  he 
had  a  musket  ball  pass  through  the  left  side  of  his  head, 
carrying  his  left  eye  with  it.  He  lived  to  be  more  than  a 
hundred  years  old.* 

17.    REV.    CALEB   ALEXANDER 

Was  born  in  Northfield,  22  July,  1755.  Graduated  at 
Yale  College  1777,  and  studied  theology  with  Rev.  Ephraim 
Judson,  of  Taunton.  He  was  ordained  at  New  Marlboro', 
28  February,  1781,  and  dismissed  28  June,  1782.  Installed 
at  Mendon,  12  April,  1786.  In  1801,  he  was  appointed  by 
the  Massachusetts  Missionary  Society,  to  visit  the  churches 
and  Indians  in  Western  New  York.  On  his  return,  he  was 
dismissed  from  his  charge  in  Mendon,  7  December,  1802, 
and  reentered  the  western  field  as  teacher,  for  which  work 
he  had  eminent  abilities.  He  first  located  in  Fairfield, 
Herkimer  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  he  was  elected  Preceptor  of 
Fairfield  Academy,  just  erected.  Under  his  direction  it 
became  a  prominent  resort  for  education.  In  1812,  he  re 
moved  to  Onondaga,  Onondaga  Co.,  to  take  charge  of  a 
newly-established  academy  there.  He  was  also  greatly 
instrumental  in  the  establishment  of  Hamilton  College  and 
Auburn  Theological  Seminary.  During  the  time,  he 
preached  almost  every  Sabbath  in  adjoining  places,  and 
gathered  many  now  flourishing  churches  in  the  region. 


*  Letter  of  W.  H.  Smith,  Esq.,  Providence,  E.  I. 


REV.    CALEB    ALEXANDER.  129 

He  died  at  Onondaga,  N.  Y.,  12  April,  1828,  aged  72 
years,  8  months,  and  20  days.  His  epitaph  is  as  follows :  — 

HIS    INDUSTRY    AND    ZEAL, 

IN  THE  CAUSE  OF  LITERATURE  AND  RELIGION, 

.  WERE    UNTIRING    AND    BENEVOLENT. 

"PRECIOUS  IN  THE  SIGHT  OF  THE  LORD  is  THE  DEATH  OF  HIS  SAINTS." 

The  following  extracts  are  from  an  obituary  notice  of  Mr. 
Alexander,  published  in  the  Onondaga  Register  for  April 
16,1828: 

"  Rev.  Mr.  Alexander  graduated  at  New  Haven  College, 
fifty-one  years  since  ;  and  after  obtaining  a  theological  edu 
cation,  and  being  for  a  few  years  pastor  of  a  church,  he 
chose  for  his  future  life  the  equally  laborious  employment  of 
a  teacher.  For  this  employment  he  was  admirably  fitted. 
Being  himself  an  excellent  scholar,  he  excelled  in  this  de 
partment  of  usefulness,  and  may  be  considered  as  the  founder 
of  several  important  literary  institutions.  Many  of  the  dis 
tinguished  men  in  each  of  the  professions  in  this  State  have 
been  brought  up  under  his  instructions.  His  literary  labors, 
considering  the  nature  of  his  official  duties,  have  been  aston 
ishing.  As  the  correspondent  of  scientific  and  religious 
periodicals,  and  as  the  author  of  several  systems  of  education, 
translations,  and  essays  on  various  subjects,  he  has  long  been 
well  known  to  the  world.  But  this  is  not  all.  As  a  steward 
of  the  mysteries  of  the  Gospel,  he  was  a  *  scribe  well  in 
structed.'  Clear  and  distinguishing  in  his  views  of  divine 
truth,  he  manifested  to  all  that,  amid  his  complicated  labors, 
the  Bible  had  never  been  neglected ;  and  we  have  seldom 
seen  a  man  so  familiar  with  its  doctrines,  and  so  capable  of 
making  the  Scripture  the  interpreter  of  itself.  The  last 
years  of  his  life,  after  having  retired  from  its  active  duties, 
were  devoted  to  the  Bible ;  and  the  treasures  of  divine 
knowledge  he  had  gathered  from  it  were  truly  wonderful." 


130      BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

Mr.  Alexander  married  Miss  Lucina  Strong,  daughter  of 
his  predecessor  at  New  Marlboro',  Rev.  Thomas  Strong. 
She  died  in  Onondaga,  24  Nov.,  1847,  aged  91.  They  had 
seven  children  : 

1.  William  H.,  now  living  in  Syracuse,  N.  Y. 

2.  Fanny,  married Smith  of  Rocton,  Herkimer  Co. 

3.  Elizabeth,  married  —    -  Groesbuck  of  Buffalo. 

4.  Sylvia,  married  a  Sheldon,  of  Buffalo. 

5.  Laura,  wife  of  Rev.  D.  C.  Lansing,  D.  D.,  of  Brooklyn, 
deceased. 

6.  Sophia,  wife  of  W.  Raynor,  of  Syracuse,  deceased. 

7.  Sarah,  of  Onondaga.* 

Mr.  Alexander  published  many  works.  Among  them  are 
"  Essay  on  the  Deity  of  Christ,  with  Strictures  upon  Emlyn, 
1791.  Translation  of  Virgil.  Latin,  Greek,  and  English 
Grammars."  And  several  occasional  Sermons. 

18.    REV.    TIMOTHY  DICKINSON, 

The  son  of  Nathan  and  Esther  Dickinson,  was  born  at 
Amherst,  25  June,  1761.|  He  lived  with  his  parents  and 

*  Letter  of  W.  H.  Alexander,  Esq.,  Syracuse,  N.  Y. 

t  The  ancestral  line  is  traceable  to  Nathaniel  of  Weathersfield,  Ct.,  as 
early  as  1638.  He  signed  the  agreement  of  the  Hartley  Settlers  at  the 
house  of  "  Goodman  Ward."  in  Hartford,  18  April,  1659,  and  moved 
to  Hartley  within  the  year  after.  He  died  at  Hartley,  16  June,  1676. 
He  had  nine  children. 

II.  Samuel,  the  eldest  son  of  Nathaniel,  born   1638,  and  married 
Martha  Bridgman   of  Springfield,  and  lived  at   Hatfield.     He  died 
30  Nov.,  1711  :  had  nine  children. 

III.  Ebenezer,  the  sixth  son.  born  2  Feb.  1680;  married  Hannah 
Frary,   and  lived   at    Hatfield.     Died    16   May,   1730.     Had  seven 
children. 

IV.  Nathan,  the  third  son,  born  30  May,  1712  ;  married,  1.  Thank-, 
ful  Warner ;  2.  Joanna  Leonard  ;  3.  Judith  Hosmer.     Died  7  Aug., 
1796.     Had  thirteen  children.     He  moved  to  Amherst,  1742. 


REV.    TIMOTHY   DICKINSON.  131 

labored  upon  a  farm  until  sixteen  years  of  age,  when  he 
enlisted  as  a  private  soldier  in  the  Continental  Militia.  He 
served  in  the  army  about  fifteen  months.  Urged  by  the 
developments  of  depravity  so  visible  in  the  camp,  he  deter 
mined  to  secure  a  public  education,  that  he  might  combat  it 
more  successfully.  He  fitted  for  college  under  Kev.  Dr. 
Dwight,  afterwards  President  of  Yale  College,  then  teaching 
a  private  school  in  Northampton.  He  graduated  at  Dart 
mouth  College  1785,  and  A.  M. ;  and  then,  for  one  year, 
took  charge  of  "  Moore's  Charity  School,"  connected  with 
the  College.  He  studied  theology  with  Rev.  David  Tappan, 
D.  D.,  then  of  Newbury,  afterwards  Divinity  Professor  in 
Harvard  University.  He  preached  at  Exeter,  N.  H.,  and  at 
Hopkinton,  N.  H. ;  and  finally,  he  received  an  unanimous 
invitation  to  settle  in  Holliston,  13  Nov.,  1788.  He  was  the 
thirteenth  candidate  after  the  dismission  of  Rev.  Joshua 
Prentiss.  He  was  ordained  and  settled  18  Feb.,  1789. 
He  died  in  the  ministry,  6  July,  1813,  aged  fifty-two  years, 
having  been  a  pastor  twenty-four  years. 

Mr.  Dickinson  married  Margaret,  the  eldest  daughter  of 
Rev.  J.  Prentiss,  his  predecessor,  and  had  seven  children, 
five  of  whom  survived  him,  and  two  became  physicians. 
His  children  were,  — 

1.  Nancy. 

2.  Joshua  Prentiss,  graduated  Brown,  1811,  and  M.  D.  at 
Cambridge,  1816.     Lives  in  Bangor,  Me. 

3.  Thomas. 

4.  Edwards,  graduated  Harvard,  1818,  and  M.  D.  1823. 
Died  at  Holliston,  1831. 

5.  Irene.     6.  John.     7.  Esther. 

Mr.    Dickinson   published   several   occasional   sermons ; 

V.  Nathan,  jr.,  born  19  Oct.  1735;  married  Esther  Fowler;  2.  m. 
Jerusha  Blodgett,  daughter  of  Dea.  Ebenezer  Dickinson.  He  died 
3  Aug.,  1825.  He  had  eight  children,  of  whom  Rev.  Timothy  D., 
above,  was  the  eldest.  —  Letter  of  Rev.  L.  M.  Boltwood,  Amherst. 


132  BIO'GRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

among  them  a  sermon  preached  before  the  Mass.  Missionary 
Society,  1811. 

Mr.  Dickinson  became  a  subject  of  Divine  grace  during  a 
remarkable  revival  of  religion,  in  his  first  year  at  college. 
He  had  the  reputation  of  a  correct  classical  scholar,  and  was 
diligent  and  persevering  in  his  studies. 

"  As  a  preacher,  he  was  plain,  faithful,  and  affectionate. 
And  as  he  firmly  believed  in  those  doctrines  which  are 
usually  denominated  the  doctrines  of  grace,  he  felt  it  his 
duty  often  plainly  and  affectionately  to  state  and  illustrate 
them.  No  considerations  of  popularity  or  self-interest  could 
deter  him  from  a  plain  and  frequent  exhibition  of  those 
truths  which  are  so  offensive  to  the  carnal  mind."* 

"  He  had  a  clear,  strong,  and  pleasant  voice,  which  enabled 
him  to  speak  with  peculiar  propriety  and  energy ;  and  as  he 
aimed  to  draw  the  attention  of  his  hearers  to  his  subject, 
rather  than  to  himself,  so  he  seldom  failed  of  deeply  impress 
ing  their  hearts  and  consciences." 

"  He  loved  to  converse  upon  religious  subjects,  and  greatly 
excelled  in  private  discourse  with  his  people.  In  some 
Christian  and  ministerial  virtues,  he  shone  with  a  peculiar 
lustre.  He  was  among  the  most  zealous  ministers  and 
Christians  to  spread  the  Gospel,  and  to  extend  the  kingdom 
of  Christ  through  the  world."f  He  was  one  of  the  founders 
of  the  Massachusetts  Missionary  Society,  and  one  of  its 
trustees.  His  boldness  in  preaching  the  offensive  doctrines 
of  the  Gospel  produced  much  disturbance  and  alienation, 
insomuch  that  a  council  was  once  called,  4  June,  1804,  to 
dissolve  the  connection.  But  harmony  was  ultimately 
restored,  and  his  closing  labors  were  performed  in  quiet,  and 
to  the  general  edification  of  his  people. 

*  Panoplist,  June,  1814. 

t  Funeral  Sermon,  by  Dr.  Emmons. 


REV".    EDMUND    MILLS.  133 


19.    REV.    EDMUND    MILLS 

Was  born  in  Kent,  Ct.,  1752 ;  graduated  at  Yale  College 
1775.  He  preached  in  various  places,  was  invited  to  settle 
in  Westboro',  but  finally  accepted  a  call  from  the  church  in 
Sutton,  as  successor  of  Rev.  Dr.  Hall,  where  he  was  ordained 
23  June,  1790.  The  sermon  was  preached  by  his  brother, 
Samuel  John  Mills  of  Torringford,  father  to  S.  J.  Mills,  of 
missionary  celebrity.  He  remained  here  until  his  death, 
7  Nov.  1825,  aged  73  years,  having  ministered  35  years 
5  months. 

Mr.  Mills  married  Mrs.  Abigail  M.  Packard,  widow  of 
Rev.  Winslow  Packard,  of  Wilmington,  Vt.,  and  afterwards 
wife  of  Rev.  Dr.  Emmons. 

He  left  five  children,  three  sons  and  two  daughters.  The 
eldest,  E.  J.  Mills,  Esq.,  reside?  in  Sutton.  2.  Lewis,  is  of 
the  firm  of  Dodge,  Tucker  &  Co.,  merchants,  Boston.  3. 
Henry,  is  in  trade  at  Watertown.  The  eldest  daughter  is 
married  to  William  Whittlesey,  Esq.,  of  Auburndale.  The 
second  is  widow  of  the  late  N.  Whittlesey  of  West  Newton, 
brother  to  the  last  named. 

The  beginning  of  Mr.  Mills's  ministry  encountered  the 
rank  spirit  of  infidelity  which  followed  the  French  Revolu 
tion,  and  blighted  so  many  places  in  New  England.  But  his 
wise  and  vigorous  exhibitions  of  truth  annihilated  the  influ 
ence  and  existence  of  an  infidel  club  in  the  town,  and  secured 
the  triumph  of  the  Gospel.  In  1810,  the  church  was  reduced 
to  55  members  ;  but  an  extensive  revival  raised  the  church, 
and  increased  it  to  125  members.  Another  season  of  refresh 
ing  was  enjoyed  ten  years  after,  when  between  40  and  50 
were  added  to  the  church. 

"  Mr.  Mills  was  an  uncommon  man.  His  erect  and  com 
manding  person,  the  dignity  and  urbanity  of  his  manners, 
his  great  sensibility  and  kindness  of  heart,  fitted  him  in  an 

12 


134      BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

admirable  degree  to  gain  the  respect  and  good  will  of  all 
who  knew  him. 

"  He  was  a  man  universally  beloved  and  admired  ;  and  to 
this  day  is  mentioned  with  veneration. 

"  He  possessed  great  originality  of  mind,  a  fine  taste,  and 
a  cultivated  intellect.  These,  together  with  a  warm  heart, 
enabled  him  in  the  pulpit  to  command  and  rivet  the  atten 
tion  of  his  hearers.  He  was  distinguished  for  appropriate 
ness  in  all  his  performances.  Upon  unusual  occasions,  he 
was  ready  at  a  moment's  notice  to  perform  any  part  assigned 
him,  with  propriety  and  effect.  It  was  upon  such  occasions 
more  than  any  other  that  he  appeared  the  man  he  was.  He 
always  excelled  where  others  failed.  He  was  fitted  by 
nature  and  by  grace  to  gain  influence  and  preserve  it. 

"  His  piety  was  of  the  contemplative  cast.  He  loved 
retirement.  He  was  a  sound  divine.  The  great  doctrines 
of  the  Reformation  as  set  forth  by  Calvin,  received  his  most 
hearty  assent.  He  was  a  faithful  and  affectionate  pastor. 
His  last  prayers  were  for  his  family  and  his  people."* 

20.    REV.   JOHN   ROBINSON 

Was  the  son  of  Ichabod  and  Lydia  (Brown)  Robinson,f 
and  was  born  in  Lebanon,  Ct.,  April,  1760.  He  graduated 


*  Tracy's  Historical  Sermon  of  Sutton. 

t  The  father  of  Rev.  John  R.,  above,  is  supposed  to  be  the  son  of 
Rev.  John  Robinson  of  Duxbury,  who  had  a  son  of  the  same  name. 
If  so,  his  ancestral  line  is  as  follows  : 

1.  William   Robinson,   Dorchester,    1636,   Farmer.      Supposed    by 
some,*but  without  positive  proof,  to  be  son  of  Rev.  John  Robinson,  of 
Ley  den.    None  of  the  name  in  this  country,  have  proved  their  descent 
from  the  famous  Nonconformist. 

2.  James,  son  of  William. 

3.  Rev.  John,  bora  at  Dorchester,    17  April,   1675;   H.  U.  1695; 
ordained  at  Duxbury,  5  June,  1702  ;  dismissed  in  1739;  removed  to 
Lebanon,  Ct.,  and  died  14  Nov.  1745.    He  married  Hannah,  daughter 


REV.    NATIIANAEL   HOWE.  135 

at  Yale  College  1780,  and  was  settled  in  Westboro'  14  Jan. 
1789  ;  dismissed,  1  Oct.  1807.  He  continued  to  reside  in 
Westboro'  some  years  after  his  dismission,  preaching  occa 
sionally,  but  ultimately  removed  to  Lebanon,  his  native 
place,  where  he  died  suddenly,  dropping  dead  in  the  street, 
2  May,  1832,  aged  72.  He  was  never  resettled,  and 
preached  but  little,  being  of  the  uncommon  class  of  dismissed 
ministers,  able  to  live  without  the  pittances  of  occasional 
supplies. 

His  residence  in  Lebanon  was  marked  by  a  controversy 
with  the  church,  the  result  of  which  was,  rightfully  or  wrong 
fully,  his  exclusion  from  the  sacramental  table. 

The  first  wife  of  Mr.  Robinson  was  a  native  of  Westboro', 
by  whom  he  had  two  children,  who  reached  maturity.  The 
oldest,  Melinda,  a  young  Christian  of  hopeful  promise,  died 
at  the  age  of  23.  The  other,  John  A.  Robinson,  is  a  very 
eminent  and  wealthy  merchant  in  New  York  city. 

His  second  wife,  a  widow,  still  resides  in  Lebanon,  Ct.* 

21.   REV.   NATHANIEL    HOWE 

Was  the  third  son  of  Capt.  Abraham  and  Lucy  (Appleton) 
Howe,  of  Ipswich,  Linebrook  parish,  where  he  was  born,  6 


of  his  predecessor,  Rer.  Ichabod  Wiswall,  31  Jan.  1705.  His  wife  and 
daughter  Mary,  aged  1G,  were  drowned  on  a  passage  to  Boston,  22 
Sept.  1722.  His  other  children  were,  Hannah,  Althca,  Betsey,  John, 
and  Ichabod.  John,  jr.,  born  16  April,  1715,  married  a  Hinckley  of 
Lebanon,  Ct.,  Teacher  in  Portsmouth,  N.  II. ,  and  died  in  Norwich, 
North  Concord  parish,  21  Aug.  1784. 

4.  Ichabod,  born  12  Dec.  1720.    His  son  William,  born  at  Lebanon, 
15  Aug.  1754,  ordained  at  Southington,  Ct.,  1780,  and  died   15  Aug. 
1825.    He  was  the  father  of  Rev.  Edward  Robinson,  D.  D.,  author  of 
Biblical  Researches,  etc. 

5.  Rev.  John,  of  Westboro',  probably  son  of  Ichabod. 

W.  R.  Deane,  Boston. 
*  Letter  of  D.  S.  Woodworth,  Esq.,  Lebanon,  Ct. 


136  BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES. 

Oct.  1764.  He  prepared  for  college  at  Dummer  Academy, 
Byfield,  under  Mr.  Samuel  Moody,  and  afterwards  studied 
with  Rev.  George  Leslie,  his  pastor,  and  Rev.  E.  Bradford, 
of  Ipswich.  With  the  latter  he  experienced  religion  and 
united  with  his  church.  He  entered  the  junior  class  at 
Nassau  Hall,  Princeton,  N.  J.,  Dr.  Weatherspoon  from 
Scotland  being  then  President ;  remained  one  year,  and 
graduated  at  Harvard  University  1786,  and  A.  M. 

After  teaching  school  a  while  in  his  native  town,  he  com 
menced  the  study  of  theology  with  Rev.  Dr.  Hart  of  Ct.,  which 
he  completed  with  Rev.  Dr.  Emmons.  He  preached  at  Lon 
donderry  and  Francestown,  N.  H.,  and  at  Hampton,  Ct.,  and 
at  Grafton,  where  he  declined  a  call  to  settle.  He  com 
menced  preaching  at  Hopkinton,  16  Jan.  1791,  and  in  May 
was  invited  unanimously  by  the  church  to  settlement.  The 
town  concurred,  on  condition  of  retaining  the  half-way 
covenant  system.  Mr.  Howe  refused  any  personal  agency 
in  its  operation,  but  engaged  to  exchange  with  ministers 
who  would  administer  it  in  his  absence  to  such  as  desired. 

The  town  assented,  18  July,  and  he  was  settled,  5  Oct. 
1791.  Rev.  E.  Bradford,  of  Ipswich,  preached  the  sermon. 
In  April,  1830,  it  was  proposed  to  him,  on  account  of  in 
creasing  infirmities,  to  have  a  colleague  pastor ;  and  accord 
ingly  Rev.  Amos  A.  Phelps  was  so  settled  as  colleague  14 
Sept.  1830,  and  continued  until  his  dismission,  1  May,  1832. 
In  1833,  Rev.  Jeffries  Hall  was  ordained  colleague,  and  con 
tinued  in  the  office  until  after  Mr.  Howe's  death.  With  both 
these  gentlemen  Mr.  II.  lived  on  the  most  friendly  terms. 
His  last  sermon  was  preached  at  Franklin,  25  Dec.  1836. 
Text,  Gal.  1:  10.*  His  last  public  service  was  the  instal 
ling  prayer  of  Rev.  D.  Brigham,  at  Framingham.  He  died 
in  peace  and  hope,  15  Feb.  1837,  in  the  73d  year  of  his  age, 

*  His  vivid  description  of  "  popular  preachers,"  and  parsonages  on 
wheels,  at  that  time,  are  still  quoted  to  this  day,  in  F. 


REV.    NATIIANAEL   HOWE.  137 

and  4Gth  of  his  ministry.     His  funeral  sermon  was  preached 
by  Rev.  J.  Ide,  D.  D.,  of  Medway. 

Mr.  Howe  married  Olive  Jones,  daughter  of  Col.  John 
Jones,  of  Hopkinton,  son  of  Col.  John  of  Boston,  who  came 
to  H.  1727.  She  died  10  Dec.  1843,  "as  distinguished  as 
her  husband."  They  had  four  children  : 

1.  Appleton,  H.  U.  1815,  M.  D.,  and  State  Senator;  also 
Major  Gen.  1st  Div.  Mass.  Militia ;  resides  in  Weymouth. 

2.  Eliza,  died  1815,  aged  21. 

3.  Mary,  married  Rev.   Samuel  Russell,  Boylston ;  died 
1836. 

4.  Lucy  Ann,  married  John  Fitch,  son  of  Dea.  Elijah  F., 
and  grandson  of  Rev.  Elijah  Fitch,  of  Hopkinton. 

There  is  little  need,  for  the  present  generation,  of  any 
portraiture  of  Mr.  Howe's  character,  in  these  brief  sketches. 
And  there  is  every  prospect  that  its  impressive  features  will 
be  perpetuated  in  his  celebrated  Century  Sermon,  and  its 
valuable  illustrative  notes,  which  has  now  reached  its  fourth 
edition,  and  been  translated  into  foreign  languages. 

He  is  especially  remembered  for  his  fervency  and  appro 
priateness  in  prayer  ;  his  originality  and  raciness  of  exp'res- 
sion  in  his  sermons ;  and  his  earnest  sympathy  with  his  sub 
ject  in  their  delivery  ;  —  for  his  generosity,  often  eccentric  in 
its  exhibition,  and  his  unflinching  utterance  of  truth,  let  it 
fall  where  it  might.  "  He  was  rightly  named  Nathanael,  an 
Israelite,  indeed,  in  whom  there  is  no  guile  !  "* 

His  publications  were,  — 

1.  A  Funeral  Sermon,  1808. 

2.  A  Century  Sermon,  24  Dec.  1815. 

3.  A  Sermon  on  the  Design  of  John's  Baptism,  preached 
before  the  Mendon  Association,  Foxboro',  1819. 

4.  A  Reply  to  Dr.  Baldwin  on  John's  Baptism,  1820. 

*  See  Century  Sermon,  and  notes  by  E.  Nason,  A.  M. ;  fourth 
edition,  from  which  the  above  sketch  is  digested. 

12* 


138      BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

5.  A  Catechism,  with  Miscellaneous  Questions,  and  a 
Chapter  of  Proverbs,  for  the  Children  under  his  Pastoral 
Care,  1834. 

22.   REV.    SAMUEL    JUDSON 

Was  born  8  December,  1767,  in  Woodbury,  Ct.  Gradu 
ated  at  Yale  College  1790  and  A.  M.,  and  was  ordained  over 
the  church  in  Uxbridge,  17  Oct.  1792.  He  was  dismissed 
on  account  of  ill  health  in  1832,  and  soon  died,  11  Nov. 
1832,  aged  65  years. 

Mr.  Judson  married  Sally  Bartlett,  daughter  of  Mr. 
Walter  P.  and  Elizabeth  (Norris)  Bartlett,  of  Salem.  They 
had  five  children,  three  sons  and  two  daughters.  The  oldest 
son,  Walter  P.  Bartlett,  grad.  B.  U.  1818,  A.  M. ;  and  M.  D. 
at  Harvard,  1821.  He  practised  medicine  in  Bridge  water 
until  his  health  failed ;  went  to  New  Orleans,  and  died  there 
1825.  The  second  son  resides  in  Connecticut.  Their  eldest 
daughter  married  the  late  Rev.  Albert  Cole,  of  Bluehill,  Me. 
The  youngest  son  and  daughter  are  active  Christians  in 
Uxbridge. 

"  Mr.  Judson  was  sound  in  the  faith,  a  consistent  minister 
of  the  Gospel,  an  excellent  pastor,  and  highly  respected  and 
beloved  by  his  people."* 

He  gave  a  thousand  dollars  to  found  a  scholarship  for  the 
education  of  pious  young  men.  Not  long  before  his  death, 
his  church  were  exiled  from  the  house  of  their  fathers  ;  but 
he  lived  long  enough  to  see  a  new  house  dedicated  to  the 
worship  of  the  Triune  God,  and  a  godly  successor  of  like 
faith  to  his  own  ordained. 

*  Letter  of  Miss  S.  J.,  Uxbridge.   . 


REV.   JOHN   WILDER.  139 


23.      REV.   JOHN   WILDER 

Was  born  in  Templeton,  12  March,  1758.*  He  was  the 
son  of  Mr.  Jonas  and  Elizabeth  Wilder,  and  removed  with 
them  to  Lancaster,  in  177G.  He  graduated  at  Dartmouth, 
1784,  and  A.  M. ;  studied  theology  with  Rev.  Dr.  Hart,  of 
Preston,  Ct.,  and  was  ordained  in  Attleboro',  27  Jan'y,  1790. 
He  was  dismissed  28  Nov.,  1822,  and  died  in  Attleboro',  9 
Feb.  183G,  aged  78  years. 

Mr.  Wilder  married  Esther  Tyler,  daughter  of  Col.  Sam 
uel  Tyler,  of  Preston,  Ct.  Mrs.  Wilder  died,  19  Jan.  ISll.f 
He  married  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Austin,  of  New  Hartford,  Ct., 
sister  to  the  late  Dr.  E.  D.  Griffin.  She  died  at  Austinburgh, 
March,  1847,  aged  72.  His  children  were  : 

1.  Esther,  died  at  the  age  of  18.     (Funeral  Sermon  :  Dr. 
Emmons's  Works,  Vol.  Ill,  p.  93.) 

2.  Eliza,  m.  Hon.  Lemuel  May,  Esq.,  S.  Attleboro' :  d.  1831 
aged  39. 

3.  Julia,  resides  in  Jewett's  City,  Ct. 

4.  John,  Rev.,  grad.  Brown  Univ.  1822,  settled  in  Charle- 
ton  1828,  died  March,  1.844.     He  m.  Mary  W.,  d.  of  Nehe- 
miah  Jones,  Esq.,  Raynham.    He  was  a  talented  and  useful 
minister  of  the  Gospel. 

5.  Jonas,  a  distinguished  school  teacher  in  Brighton  ;  died 
1838,  m.  Miss  P.  Hyde,  d.  of  Capt.  Samuel  H.  of  Newton  : 
See  obit,  in  B.  Recorder,  22  June,  '38. 

6.  Samuel  T.,  grad.  Brown  Univ.  1825;  Lawyer  in  Roch 
ester,  N.  Y.,  where  he  died  1837,  aged  37. 

7.  Charles  B.,  merchant  in  Boston  ;  m.  Mary  A.,  d.  of  Mr. 
Ebenezer  Guild,  S.  Attleboro'. 

8.  Betsey  B.,  resides  in  Lowell. 


*  Eev.  L.  Sabin,  Templeton. 

t  See  her  Funeral  Sermon,  Dr.  Emmons's  works,  Vol.  Ill,  p.  104. 


14  0  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

9.  Amy  Ann,m.  Eev.  J.  W.  Smith,  of  Eaton  Rapids,  Mich., 
where  she  died,  in  1846,  aged  37. 

10.  Joseph   A.,  Merchant,  Philadelphia ;  m.  Mary,  d.  of 
Capt.  Henry  Smith,  of  Dedham. 

11.  Richard  E.,  school  teacher,  in  Kentucky. 

12.  George  G.,  Merchant,  in   Boston;  m.  Martha,  d.  of 
Mr.  Benjamin  Swan,  of  Fitchburg. 

The  funeral  sermon  of  Mr.  Wilder, by  Rev.  E.  Fiske, of 
Wrentham,  was  printed,  and  exhibits  him  as  an  able,  firm 
preacher  of  the  Hopkinsian  school,  and  eminently  useful  in 
his  work. 

Mr.  Wilder's  ministry  succeeded  a  long  vacancy  of  eight 
years,  in  the  pastoral  office,  following  the  death  of  Rev.  Ha- 
bijah  Weld ;  in  which  time  so  much  difference  of  opinion 
about  candidates  prevailed,  that  the  church  appointed  a  "  Fast 
on  account  of  present  difficulties."  Upon  his  settlement, 
these  differences  disappeared,  and  unanimity  marked  the 
thirty-two  years  of  his  pastoral  connection  with  them,  in 
which  time  the  church  grew,  and  was  strengthened. 

Mr.  Wilder  was  a  faithful  pastor,  a  clear  and  convincing 
preacher,  and  respected  by  his  people  to  the  end  of  his  life. 
His  memory  is  gratefully  preserved  by  them  to  this  day. 

He  published  several  sermons,  among  which  are,  Funeral 
Sermon  of  Dea.  Lane,  also  of  Hon.  Elisha  May ;  Fast  Ser 
mon,  1805;  Sermon  on  "  The  Coming  of  The  Lord  ;"  Ad 
dress  before  the  Attleboro'  Agricultural  Society. 

24.  REV.    BENJAMIN   WOO  D 

Was  the  son  of  Joseph  and  Ellen  (Palmer)  Wood,  and 
was  born  in  Lebanon,  N.  H.,  15  Sept.,  1772.  He  was  the 
eleventh  of  twelve  children,  seven  sons  and  five  daughters,  ten 
of  whom  reached  maturity.  The  eldest  son  was  the  late  Sam 
uel  Wood  D.  D.,  of  Boscawen,  N.  H.  The  youngest  is  now  a 
clergyman  in  the  State  of  New  York.  His  parents  at  the 


REV.    BENJAMIN   WOOD.  141 

first  resided  in  Mansfield,  Ct.,  and  removed  to  Lebanon,  N.  H. 
1767. 

He  fitted  for  college  with  his  brother  Samuel,  and  gradu 
ated  at  Dartmouth,  1793,  and- A.  M.  He  commenced  Theol 
ogy  with  his  brother,  then  settled  at  Boscawen,  and  completed 
his  course  with  Rev.  Dr.  Emmons.  He  first  preached  in 
Upton,  14  June,1795;  on  December  17,  received  an  unanimous 
call  to  settle  there,  which  he  accepted,  12  March,  and  was 
ordained  in  Upton  1  June,  1796.  He  was  urged  to  take 
charge  of  the  newly  organized  Central  Church  in  Worcester 
in  1820,  but  he  refused  ;  and,  according  to  his  then  reply,  "I 
shall  leave  my  bones  in  Upton,"  adhered  to  his  first  choice 
until  his  death,  24  April,  1849,  aged  76. 

Mr.  Wood  married  Miss  Betsey  Dustin,  of  Haverhill,  a 
descendant  of  the  Mrs.  Dustin  taken  by  the  Indians.  His 
second  wife  was  Miss  Almira  Howe  ;  she  died  16  Sept.,  1845, 
after  a  sickness  of  six  years. 

He  had  seven  children  ;  Betsy,  Palmer,  Fanny,  Philena, 
Maria,  Willard,  and  Hannah. 

During  the  fifty  three  years  of  Mr.  Wood's  labors  in  Up 
ton,  eight  distinct  seasons  of  refreshing  were  enjoyed,  which 
resulted  in  the  addition  of  over  four  hundred  members  to 
the  church.  He  lived  to  see  anew  house  of  worship  opened. 
When  the  old  pulpit  was  forsaken,  he  felt  it  was  time  that 
the  voice  which  had  spoken  from  it  half  a,  century  should  be 
silent.  His  last  sermon  was  preached  on  the  last  Sabbath  in 
March  before  his  death,  and  was  addressed  to  the  youth. 
Then  he  laid  down  to  die.  To  a  clerical  brother,  he  expressed 
his  dying  faith,  "  I  have  been  examining  the  doctrines  which 
I  preached,  to  see  if  any  of  them  may  be  spared :  but  I  can 
not  part  with  one.  They  are  all  precious ;  They  are  all 
links  in  a  golden  chain." 

"  Mr.  Wood  was  a  man  of  great  excellence.  He  was  a 
gentleman  and  a  Christian.  His  vivacity  and  kindness  of 


142  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

disposition,  associated  with  his  piety,  made  religion  in   him 
appear  with  peculiar  beautj. 

"  He  was  a  sound  and  discriminating  theologian  ;  a  faith 
ful,  efficient,  and  popular  preacher.  He  was  eminently  a 
doctrinal  preacher.  There  was  an  aptness  and  vivacity  in 
his  instructions,  a  clearness  in  his  statements  and  reasoning 
that,  aside  from  any  peculiarity  of  voice  and  manner,  would 
have  made  him  an  interesting  and  popular  preacher."* 

25.  REV.  JOHN  CLEAVELAND,  JR. 

Was  born  in  Ipswich,  17  Jan.  1749-50.  He  was  the  son 
of  Rev.  John  Cleaveland,  of  the  Fourth  church,  Chebacco 
parish,  Ipswich,  now  Essex.  His  father  was  born  in  Can 
terbury,  Ct.,  1722  ;  Yale  Coll.  1745  ;  and  was  chaplain  four 
years  in  the  French  war,  at  Louisburg  and  Ticonderoga.f 
The  subject  of  this  sketch,  with  his  younger  brother,  com 
menced  preparation  for  Yale  college ;  but  the  father  being 
unable  to  support  both  in  college,  decided  to  treat  both  alike, 
and  give  them  the  best  education  he  could.  On  this  account, 
he  never  graduated.  For  a  time,  he  served  as  soldier  in  the 
war  of  the  Revolution  ;  j  but  left,  and  resumed  his  studies  in 
private,  and  qualified  himself  for  the  ministry.  Pie  received 
an  honorary  A.  M.,  Union  Coll.,  1803.  He  was  ordained  at 
Stoneham,  19  Oct.,  1785,  and  dismissed  23  Oct.  1794;  was 
installed  over  the  Second  or  North  church  in  Wrentham,  6 
June,  1798  ;  where  he  died,  1  Feb.,  1815,  aged  G5  years, 
after  a  wasting  sickness  by  consumption.  While  at  Stoneham, 


*  Sec  Extract  from  his  Funeral  Sermon,  in  B.  Recorder. 

i  He  was  son  of  Josiah  and  Abigail  Cleaveland,  and  b.  1 1  April, 1722. 
Ordained  at  Chebacco,  25  July,  1747;  m.  1.  Mary,  dau.  of  Parker 
Dodge,  31  July.  1 747.  2d.  Mary,  widow  of  Capt.  John  Foster,  of  Man 
chester,  Sept.  1769. — Hist.  Ipsicich,  p.  2G3. 

\   John   Cleaveland  served  as   chaplain  in  Col.  Little's  regiment, 
xvii  Foot,  Cont.  Army,  enlisted  1  July,  1775. 


REV.     JOHN     CLEAVELAND,    JR.          143 

he  married  Miss  Abigail  Adams  of  Canterbury,  Ct.  She 
died  of  small  pox,  in  1793.  His  second  wife  was  Miss  Eliza 
beth  Evans,  of  Stoneham.  She  was  not  pious,  but  afterwards 
became  eminently  so.*  She  afterwards  became  the  wife  of 
Rev.  Dr.  Harris,  of  Dunbarton,  N.  H. 

While  Mr.  Cleaveland  was  in  Wrentham,  several  seasons 
of  religious  interest  were  enjoyed  amongst  his  people,  and  a 
large  proportion  of  them  were  converted  to  God.  They  were 
days  of  brightness  and  prosperity  to  that  part  of  the  Lord's 
vineyard. 

Mr.  Cleaveland  was  grave  and  sedate.  "  He  possessed  a 
singular  talent  at  turning  conversation  to  some  useful  sub 
ject,  and  at  making  pertinent  and  serious  remarks  with  ease 
and  propriety. 

"  He  dwelt  much,  in  his  preaching,  upon  experimental 
religion.  His  discourses  were  more  solid  than  brilliant,  more 
sentimental  than  declamatory  ;  and  better  adapted  to  assist 
the  memory,  enlighten  the  understanding,  and  awaken  the 
conscience,  and  penetrate  the  heart,  than  to  excite  the  admi 
ration,  or  gratify  the  vain  curiosity  of  his  hearers."f 

He  published  a  few  occasional  sermons  :  one,  '  War/ 
preached  fast-day,  1812. 

Mr.  Cleaveland  invariably  devoted  two  afternoons,  weekly, 
to  systematic  visitation  of  his  people,  and  the  rest  of  the  week 
as  systematically  to  study. 

He  was  remarkably  punctual ;  so  much  so,  that  when  he 
found  he  was  likely  to  arrive  at  the  meeting-house  five  min 
utes  too  soon,  he  would  walk  his  horse,  so  as  invariably  to 
reach  the  door  within  three  minutes  of  the  time.  He  had  also 
an  almost  prophetic  induction  of  future  events.  By  calm  colla- 


*  This  marriage  with  a  non-professor,  troubled  some  pious  minds  at 
Stoneham,  and  occasioned  his  dismission ;  without  the  least  charge, 
however,  to  the  pastor  or  his  wife. 

t  See  Funeral  Sermon,  by  Rev.  Dr.  Emmons. 


144       BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

tion  of  Scripture  with  history,  he  very  fully  predicted,  to 
confidential  friends,  half  a  century  ago,  just  such  improve 
ments  in  education  and  facilities  for  travel  as  are  now  taking 
place. 

As  Mr.  C.  had  no  children,  he  adopted  two  as  daughters  : 
Miss  Nancy  Felt,  now  Mrs.  J.  C.  Proctor,  of  Boston,  and 
Miss  Mary  Robishaw,  now  of  Walpole ;  natives  of  Wrent- 
hara. 

26.    REV.   NATHAN   HOLMAN 

Was  the  third  son  of  Mr.  David  and  Lucy  (Thurston) 
Holraan,  and  was  born  in  that  part  of  Sutton  now  called 
Millbury,  17  May,  1769.  He  descended  from  Solomon  Hoi- 
man  of  Newbury.* 

He  labored  upon  his  father's  farm  until  his  21st  year, 
when  his  ardent  thirst  for  knowledge  set  him  determinately 
at  work  to  procure  a  liberal  education.  He  had  no  funds  of 
his  own,  and  could  expect  but  little  direct  assistance  from  his 
father,  who  had  a  family  of  twelve  children  to  provide  for  ; 


*  The  Holman  family  migrated  from  Wales  to  the  Bermuda  Islands, 
between  1670  and  1690.  It  included  three  sons  born  in  Wales.  Two  of 
the  sons,  Solomon  and  John,  were  seized  by  a  press-gang  and  brought 
to  Ncwburyport.  There  they  succeeded  in  escaping  from  the  British 
ship.  John,  the  younger,  settled  in  North  Carolina.  Solomon  settled 
in  Newbury,  married  a  Miss  Barton,  of  Old  York,  and  had  four  sons 
and  three  daughters,  viz.  Solomon,  Edward,  Thomas,  and  John ;  Anna 
m.  Richard  Waters,  Rachel  m.  Samuel  Waters,  and  Sarah  m.  Abel 
Chase.  Solomon,  Edward,  and  Thomas  settled  in  Sutton,  before  1732. 
They  were  among  the  original  proprietors  of  Millbury. 

Edward  m.  Hannah  Emory  of  Newbury,  and  had  eleven  children, — 
six  sons  and  five  daughters. 

David,  his  third  son,  m.  Lucy  Thurston,  of  Uxbridgc,  —  an  orphan 
from  infancy,  and  had  twelve  children.  Eight  sons  and  one  daughter 
reached  maturity. 

Nathan,  above,  was  their  third  son. —  Letter  of  Rev.  David  ttol man, 
Douglas,  brother  of  Nathan. 


REV.    NATHAN    HOLMAN.  145 

but  by  uncommon  adherence  to  his  cherished  purpose,  he 
succeeded.  He  graduated  at  Brown  university,  1797,  and 
A.  M.,  with  distinguished  honors  ;  and  immediately  com 
menced  the  study  of  theology  with  Rev.  Edmund  Mills  of 
Sutton.  He  spent  the  close  of  his  course  with  Rev.  Dr. 
Emmons. 

After  approbation,  he  preached  in  several  places  with 
great  success,  and  received  several  calls  to  settle  in  the  min 
istry.  Early  in  1800,  he  commenced  preaching  in  East  At- 
tleboro',  and  was  ordained  there,  15  Oct.  1800,  the  successor 
of  Rev.  Ebenezer  Lazell.  After  laboring  nearly  21  years, 
he  was,  to  the  regret  of  his  people,  dismissed,  22  May,  1821.* 
He  still  resided  in  Attleboro',  supplying  destitute  pulpits  as 
he  was  able,  while  he  lived.  He  died  suddenly,  28  Oct.,  1844, 
at  the  age  of  75  years.  His  monument  is  conspicuous  in  the 
burying-ground,  north  of  the  meeting-house  where  he  spent 
his  strength,  —  a  plain  pyramidal  shaft,  with  the  brief  in 
scription,  above  the  usual  dates : 

"LooK  TO  GOD." 

Mr.  Holman  married  Miss  Lettice,  daughter  of  Mr.  Sam 
uel  Morey,  of  Norton.  She  died  6  March,  1848.  They  had 
three  children  : 

1.  Samuel  Morey.     Married  Miss  Lincoln,  of  Norton, 
and  lives  in  Attleboro'. 

2.  David  Emory.     Married  Miss  Jane  Bolcom.     Resides 
in  Attleboro'. 


=*  The  real  cause  of  his  dismission,  (undivulged  at  the  time,  as  ap- 
pcai's  from  his  papers,)  was  two-fold :  1.  His  objection  to  the  intro 
duction  of  wind  instruments,  in  sacred  music,  on  the  Sabbath.  2.  His 
not  proposing  a  relinquishment  of  some  part  of  his  salary.  He  asked  a 
dismission,  April  12.  At  two  church-meetings,  not  one  was  in  favor  of 
granting  his  request.  At  the  third,  only  two.  The  rest  of  the  church 
present,  28,  refused  to  act.  Accordingly,  the  request  was  declared 
granted. 

13 


146      BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

3.  Mary  Hodges,  the  wife  of  Col.  M.  Stone,  of  Norton. 
At  the  time  of  Mr.  Holman's  settlement  in  Attleboro',  the 
church  was  in  a  very  reduced  state.  There  had  been  but 
nine  additions  for  eighteen  years.  '  There  were  but  ten  active 
male  members,  and  none  of  these  under  fifty  years.  A  deep 
interest  in  religion  marked  the  commencement  of  his  ministry. 
He  says  in  a  sermon, "  From  the  first  sermon  preached  by  me 
in  this  pulpit,  some  dated  those  serious  impressions  upon  their 
minds,  which  resulted  in  hopeful  conversion."  During  the 
first  two  years  of  his  ministry,  forty -three  were  added  to  the 
church.  Then  for  twelve  years  religion  declined,  and  only 
twelve  were  added.  In  1814,  his  labors  were  blessed  with 
another  and  very  extensive  outpouring  of  the  Holy  Spirit. 
The  work  continued  two  years,  and  resulted  in  the  addition 
of  one  hundred  and  thirty-four  to  the  church. 

This  revival  seemed  to  give  new  life  to  the  church,  and 
wrought  a  great  change  in  the  morals  and  habits  of  the 
people.  Many  deeply  interesting  facts  are  remembered  of 
this  surprising  work  of  grace.  As  a  specimen,  "  a  pious  fa 
ther  travelled  some  thirty  miles  to  bring  home  an  absent  child, 
saying, '  it  is  my  duty  to  place  my  children  where  God  is.' 
Next  day  she  attended  a  conference,  and  the  30  Hymn  II 
Book,  of  Watts  was  sung :  — 

'  Come,  we  who  love  the  Lord, 
And  let  our  joys  be  known.'  etc. 

She  arose  and  sung  the  first  and  second  stanzas  with  others. 
"When  they  began  the  third, 

1  Let  those  refuse  to  sing, 
Who  never  knew  their  God,'  — 

she  dropped  upon  her  seat,  and  knew  no  peace  till  she  found 
it  in  believing."* 

. — — * , 

*  Historical  Sketches,  by  Rev.  J.  Crane,  p.  41. 


REV.    NATHAN   HOLMAN.  147 

Mr.  Holman  thus  speaks  of  the  religious  experience  of  the 
subjects  of  this  work  of  grace.  Their  relations  "  were 
particularly  Scriptural,  and  truly  orthodox.  In  general,  those 
who  have  united  with  the  church  for  twenty  years  past  have 
fully  embraced  the  system  of  doctrine,  which  is  called  Hop- 
kinsian." 

It  is  perhaps  needless  to  say  that  Mr.  Holman  believed 
and  preached  the  same  system  of  Divine  truth. 

He  was  a  clear,  plain  and  discriminating  preacher  of  the 
doctrines  of  grace.  As  a  pastor,  he  was  eminently  adapted 
to  labor  in  seasons  of  religious  interest.  The  writer  well 
remembers  his  serious  appeals  in  public,  and  his  faithful  ex 
hortations,  and  wise  directions  in  the  inquiry-meeting,  during 
a  revival  of  religion  in  Franklin,  where  he  supplied  the  pulpit 
after  Dr.  Emmons's  resignation.  He  had  ever  a  peculiar 
and  impressive  solemnity  in  the  pulpit,  especially  in  his  prayers, 
which  seldom  failed  to  impart  itself  to  the  assembly. 

His  manners  and  habits  were  marked  by  regularity,  pre 
cision,  firmness  and  industry.*  He  had  by  nature  a  kind  and 
benevolent  disposition,  and  in  all  his  intercourse,  as  a  pastor, 
citizen,  husband  and  father,  the  law  of  kindness  was  written 
on  his  heart. 

His  style  as  a  writer  was  pure  and  chaste.  His  productions 
are  marked  by  unity  of  subject,  and  every  sentence  tells  upon 
the  final  impression.  They  abound  in  terse  apothegms. 

*  The  T^oom  by  which  Mr.  II.  procured  the  means  of  his  education  was 
still  kept  in  working  order  in  his  garret  at  Attlcboro,'  on  which  he  plied 
the  shuttle  almost  daily  during  his  ministry.  The  first  suit  of  clothes 
says  one  of  his  sons,  which  he  wore  to  meeting,  when  a  boy,  were  of  his 
fathers  weaving.  t  As  evidence  of  Mr.  H's  perseverance,  it  is  said  that 
he  studied  Latin  and  Greek  while  at  work  in  the  field  ;  setting  open  his 
book  on  the  wall  at  one  side  of  the  plot  of  ground,  and  conning  his  de 
clensions  and  paradigms,  while  he  followed  the  plough,  the  hoe,  or  the 
scythe  across  and  back.  He  thus  worked  his  way  through  the  farm  and 
the  classics  at  the  same  time. 


148     BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

Many  sentences,  heard  from  his  lips  twenty  years  ago,  are  still 
fresh  in  mind,  even  to  the  exact  phraseology. 

Mr.  Holman  published  several  occasional  sermons  and  ad 
dresses.  The  publication  of  a  volume  from  his  manuscripts, 
has  been  contemplated. 

* 

27.   REV.    OTIS    THOMPSON 

Is  the  son  of  Nathaniel  Thompson,  and  was  born  in  Mid- 
dleboro',  14  Sept.,  1776.  He  graduated  at  Brown  University 
1798,  and  A.  M.  For  the  two  years  following  his  gradua 
tion,  he  filled  the  office  of  tutor  to  the  College  ;  the  last  year 
in  connection  with  Rev.  E.  Fisk,  of  Wrentham.  He  pursued 
the  study  of  theology  while  instructing  in  the  University, 
and  was  ordained  over  the  church  in  Rehoboth,  24  Sept., 
1800.  He  continued  in  this  connection  until  his  dismission, 
30  Oct.  1832.  He  afterwards  preached  in  various  places, 
until  1840,  when  he  removed  to  the  state  of  New  York,  and 
took  charge  of  a  church  in  Litchfield,  Herkimer  Co.,  N.  Y. ; 
which  charge  he  relinquished  in  1849.  Since  the  latter 
date,  he  has  resided  in  North  Abington,  his  present  abiding 
place. 

Mr.  Thompson  married  Miss  Rachel  Chandler  of  Plymp- 
ton,  by  whom  he  had  nine  children,  six  of  whom  survive. 
Of  his  four  daughters,  one  was  married  to  Rev.  Tyler 
Thacher,  now  of  California  ;  one  to  Rev.  Origen  Batchellor, 
once  editor  of  the  Anti-Universalist ;  one  to  a  Mr.  Carpenter, 
of  Auburndale ;  and  one  to  Mr.  Lewis  Kent,  of  Boston. 
None  of  his  sons  are  in  the  ministry.  His  wife  died  in  1827, 
and  he  married  Miss  Charlotte  Fales,  of  Bristol,  R.  I.  She 
died  in  1849.  His  present  wife  was  Miss  Polly  Shaw,  of 
North  Abington. 

Mr.  Thompson  is  chiefly  known  as  an  experienced  and 
skilful  theological  instructor  and  writer. 

During    his  ministry  he   superintended  the    theological 


REV.    DAVID    THOMPSON.  149 

studies  of  fifteen  candidates  for  the  ministry,  eleven  of  whom 
are  noticed  in  these  sketches.* 

The  chief  of  Mr.  Thompson's  publications  are  the  follow 
ing: — 

1.  "  A  Review  of  Rev.  Thomas  Andros's  Essay  on  Divine 
Efficiency."     12mo.,  1821. 

2.  "  The  Hopkinsian  Magazine,"  a  monthly,  and  making 
four  volumes  in  eight  years,  1824-32. 

3.  "  Sermons,  Doctrinal  and  Practical."     Vol.  I.  12mo. 
pp.  336,  1850. 

4.  1 6  Funeral  Sermons,  6  Ordination  Sermons,  3  Fast  and 
Thanksgiving  Sermons,  5  Occasional  Sermons,  making  30 
pamphlets. 

These  works  show  the  author  to  be  an  acute  metaphysical 
thinker,  a  discriminating  writer,  and  a  thorough,  consistent 
Hopkinsian,  who  understands  his  position  and  his  definitions, 
and  leaves  no  obstacle  to  prevent  others  from  doing  the 
same.  Though  now  the  oldest  of  the  living  clergymen  who 
have  been  connected  with  this  body,  and  though  his  earthly 
tabernacle  trembles  under  the  load  of  years,  his  mind  shows 
no  indications  of  yielding  to  the  pressure  of  age. 

28.   REV.   DAVID    LONG 

Was  the  son  of  Mr.  Enoch  and  Abigail  Long,  and  was 
born  in  Newbury  3  Feb.,  1772.  At  the  age  of  five  years,  he 


removed  with  his  parents  to  Hopkinton,  N.  H.     He  became 


*  The  following  is  a  list  of  Mr.  Thompson's  students.  Those  starred 
are  elsewhere  mentioned.  *  Daniel  Thomas.  Jason  Chamberlain, 
Prof,  in  Vermont  University,  deceased.  *  Alvan  Cobb.  *  Jonas 
Perkins.  *  Stetson  Raymond.  *  Lot  B.  Sullivan.  *  Josephus 
Wheaton.  #  Augustus  B.  Read.  Jabez  Porter,  never  settled,  de 
ceased.  *  Silas  Shores.  *  Moses  Thacher.  *Tyler  Thacher.  *  Elam 
Smalley.  Ebenezer  W.  Robinson,  Lisbon,  Ct.  Stephen  S.  Harrison, 
Bloomingdale,  111. 

13* 


150      BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

*. 

a  subject  of  Divine  grace  in  his  nineteenth  year,  and  united 
with  the  church  under  Rev.  Jacob  Cram.  He  fitted. for 
college  under  the  eye  of  Rev.  Mr.  Paige  of  Hopkinton,  N,  H., 
and  Rev.  Dr.  Wood  of  Boscawen  ;  and  entered  the  sophomore 
class  of  1795  at  Dartmouth  College,  and  graduated  1798, 
and  A.  M.  He  studied  theology  with  Rev.  Walter  Harris, 
D.  D.,  of  Dunbarton,  N.  H.  He  received  invitations  to 
settle  in  the  ministry,  both  at  Deering,  N.  H.,  and  at  Man 
chester,  Mass.,  but  declined  them.  He  came  to  Milford  in 
1800,  and  was  ordained  there  20  May,  1801.  He  continued 
in  the  pastoral  office  until  1844,  when  he  resigned  to  a  suc 
cessor.  He  remained  in  Milford  until  his  death,  which  event 
occurred  while  he  was  on  a  visit  to  a  sick  daughter,  at  Hart 
ford,  Ct.,  13  March,  1850.  He  was  78  years  old,  and  had 
been  nearly  49  years  in  the  ministry. 

Mr.  Long  married  Miss  Lois  Howe  in  1794.  who  died  in 
a  few  months.  He  married  a  second  time,  4  June,  1804, 
Miss  Rebecca  Curtis  of  Worcester,  by  whom  he  had  four 
children.  The  mother  died  24  June,  1824.  None  of  the 
children  are  now  alive.  The  daughter,  at  whose  house  Mr. 
Long  closed  his  days,  Mrs.  Maria  A.,  wife  of  Mr.  Hoyt 
Freeman,  of  Hartford,  Ct.,  followed  him  in  three  weeks. 
The  only  child  who  survived  him,  Claudius  B.  Long,  died  in 
1851.  Mr.  Long  married  a  third  time,  17  April,  182G, 
Miss  Sophia  Rice,  of  Marlboro',  who  still  lives. 

"  Mr.  Long  was  a  firm  believer  in  the  distinguishing  doc 
trines  of  the  Gospel,  as  they  were  taught  and  believed  by 
our  Pilgrim  Fathers.  (He  was  an  intelligent  Hopkinsian.) 

"  His  sermons  were  able,  well  studied,  and  correctly  writ 
ten  ;  not  so  remarkable  for  their  brilliancy  as  for  their  depth 
of  thought  and  weight  of  matter.  In  his  delivery,  there  was 
more  of  that  distinctness,  moderation,  and  solemnity,  which 
the  philosophic  and  patient  thinker  prizes,  than  that  rapidity 
of  utterance,  animation  of  feeling,  and  energy  of  manner, 
which  are  pleasing  to  all,  and  deemed  indispensable  by 


REV.ELISIIAFISK.  151 

some,  with  whom  the  chief  object  of  preaching  is  animal 
excitement. 

"  There  was  a  beautiful  correspondence  between  the  truths 
which  he  taught  and  the  principles  by  which  his  own  conduct 
was  governed.  Integrity  and  uprightness  were  leading 
features  in  his  character.  When  he  once  made  a  promise, 
everybody  expected  he  would  fulfil  it.  He  would  do  right  at 
all  events. 

"  There  were  repeated  revivals  among  his  people  during 
his  ministry.  But  he  gathered  men  by  individuals  rather 
than  by  multitudes  into  the  church  ;  and  his  success  lay 
rather  in  establishing  Christians  in  the  faith  once  delivered 
to  the  saints,  in  inculcating  the  duties  which  devolved  upon 
them  as  the  professed  disciples  of  Christ,  and  in  disciplining 
their  minds  for  their  holy  warfare,  than  in  rapidly  increasing 
their  number.  There  are  comparatively  few  men  that  have 
done  more  for  the  kingdom  of  Christ,  in  similar  circum 
stances."* 

Mr.  Long  published  but  one  sermon,  on  the  return  of  an 
artillery  company  from  the  war  of  1812. 

29.   REV.    ELISHA    FISK 

Was  the  son  of  Robert  and  Mary  (Hall)  Fisk,  and  was 

born  in  that  part  of  Holliston  now  included  in  West  Medway, 

1  3   Sept.,  1769-t     At  a  year  and  a  half  of  age  his  parents 

*  Sec  Funeral  Sermon,  by  Rev.  Dr.  Idc  ;  also,  Obituary  in  Assoc. 
Records. 

t  Mr.  Fisk  descended  from  William  'Fisk,  brother  of  Rev.  John 
Fisk,  minister  of  Chelmsford,  where  he  died  14  Jan.,  1676.  William 
Fisk  arrived  1637,  admitted  freeman  1642,  member  of  the  church, 
Salem,  2  July,  1641  ;  removed  to  Wenham,  where  he  was  town  clerk, 
and  rep.  from  1647  to  1650,  and  died  1654.  His  widow  married  a  Rix, 
of  Salem.  His  grandson,  Daniel,  removed  from  Wenham  to  Upton  in 
1748,  and  died  about  1761.  He  had  eight  children.  Samuel,  one  of 


152  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

removed  to  Upton,  where  he  spent  his  youth,  and  where  he 
became  a  child  of  God,  under  the  ministry  of  Rev.  Elisha 
Fish ;  whose  name  differed  from  his  own  by  but  a  single 
letter.  At  five  years  of  age  he  had  read  the  Bible  through. 
He  set  himself  to  gain  a  liberal  education  with  reference  to 
the  ministry,  and  by  dint  of  perseverance,  entered  Brown 
University,  and  graduated  1795,  and  A.  M.  He  was  tutor 
the  three  years  following.  While  here,  he  was  approbated 
to  preach  the  Gospel. 

He  preached  the  first  time  in  Wrentham,  on  the  first 
Sabbath  in  May,  1798.  It  was  the  first  sermon  he  wrote, 
and  the  text  was  Gen.  1:1.  It  proved  to  be  the  first  of  a 
long  series  of  discourses  to  that  people.  Nov.  6th,  he  re 
ceived  a  call  to  settle  amongst  them.  The  prospect  was 
dark  indeed,  but  circumstances  appeared  to  make  duty  very 
plain.  He  was  ike  forty-ninth  candidate,  and  but  the  second 
who  had  received  a  call.  Imagining  the  interminable  cata 
logue  which  might  follow  if  he  declined,  he  decided  to  break 
this  non-apostolic  succession,  and  accepted  the  invitation,  25 
April.  He  was  ordained  over  the  first  church  in  Wrentham 
12  June,  1799.  Rev.  Dr.  Hitchcock  of  Providence  preached 
the  sermon.  After  occupying  the  field  alone  nearly  45  years, 
he  proposed  that  a  colleague  should  be  settled,  and  Rev. 
Horace  James  was  inducted  into  this  office  1  November,  1843. 
Mr.  Fisk  still  continued  to  preach  almost  every  Sabbath  at 
home,  in  surrounding  vacant  places,  or  in  the  pulpits  of  his 
brethren. 

The  last  Sabbath  he  spent  on  earth  was  employed  in 
preaching  the  Gospel  and  breaking  the  sacramental  bread 


the  sous,  removed  to  Shelburne,  and  was  the  ancestor  of  Rev.  Pliny 
Fisk.  Daniel,  the  oldest  son,  born  about  1723,  married  Zelpah  Tyler, 
and  had  five  children.  Of  them,  Robert,  born  24  February,  1746, 
married  Mary  Hall,  and  had  four  children.  The  eldest  was  Elisha 
Fisk,  above.  —  Letter  ofM.  Plimpton,  Esq.,  Boston. 


REV.     ELISIIA    FISK.  153 

to  the  church  in  Attleboro'.  It  was  an  intensely  cold  day 
in  December,  and  the  fatigue  and  exposure  of  riding  in  an 
open  sleigh  some  ten  miles  was  more  than  a  human  frame  of 
over  four  score  years  standing  could  endure.  A  cold  and 
fever  was  the  result,  running  into  a  lethargic  state,  in  which 
the  ever-busy  spirit,  having  put  its  weary  partner  of  dust  to 
sleep,  softly  withdrew  to  the  presence  of  God.  He  died 
7  Jan.,  1851,  in  the  82d  year  of  his  age,  and  52d  of  his 
ministry,  and  was  buried  on  the  day  of  the  regular  meeting 
of  the  Association  at  his  house.  It  was  appointed  to  be  there 
at  his  request,  and  he  had  anticipated  its  coming  with  great 
satisfaction,  —  not  imagining  that  they  should  be  convened 
for  his  funeral ! 

Mr.  Fisk  married  first,  Lydia,  daughter  of  John  and 
Susanna  Robinson  of  Milford.  She  died  11  July,  1805, 
leaving  two  children.  He  next  married  Mrs.  Margaret 
Brown,  daughter  of  Capt.  Benjamin  and  Hepsibah  (Blake) 
Shepherd,  of  Wrentham.  She  died  30  April,  1850.  His 
children  were,  — 

1.  Mary  Hall,  married  Rev.  George  Fisher,  Harvard,  and 
died  29  April,  1852,  aged  51. 

2.  Charles  Robinson,  grad.  Brown  University   1824,  and 
now  a  clergyman  in  Illinois. 

3.  Charlotte  Brown,  daughter  of  his  second  wife,  by  a 
former  husband,  who  married   Rev.  Amos  A.   Phelps   of 
Boston,  and  died  Aug.,  1838. 

4.  Emily  Frances,  married  to  Capt.  Wm.  Sturtevant,  of 
New  Bedford. 

5.  William  Jones,  died  in  1830,  aged  16. 

6.  Frederick  Augustus,  Rev.    (See  Licentiates,  No.  119). 

7.  Harriet  Josephine,  wife  of  Rev.  Erasmus  D.  Moore,  of 
Boston. 

At  the  time  of  Mr.  Fisk's  ordination,  the  church  was 
reduced  to  ten  members  ;  and  "  they  were  divided  in  their 
religious  opinions,  and  in  many  instances  strongly  excited 


154  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

against  each  other,  on  account  of  the  different  positions 
which  they  had  taken  in  the  controversy  with  his  predeces 
sor,  Rev.  Mr.  Avery.  Of  an  observing  mind,  careful  and 
conciliating  in  his  conversation  and  manners,  interesting  and 
popular  in  his  pulpit  performances,  he  succeeded,  as  few 
other  men  would,  in  uniting  and  holding  together  very  dis 
cordant  materials,  not  only  at  the  commencement  of  his 
ministry,  but  through  the  vicissitudes  of  more  than  fifty 
years.  He  gained  and  kept  the  enviable  reputation  of 
peace-maker"* 

He  was  blessed  with  several  seasons  of  refreshing  from 
the  presence  of  the  Lord.  In  1805,  51  were  added  to  the 
church.  In  1815  and  16,  64  made  profession  of  religion. 
In  1821,  43  were  gathered  in.  Again,  58  joined  in  1832. 
The  whole  number  of  admissions  during  his  sole  ministry 
was  432. 

Mr.  Fisk  possessed  an  iron  constitution,  and  great  perse 
verance,  and  was  able  to  labor,  even  in  his  advanced  age, 
beyond  the  ability  of  many  young  men.  He  frequently  took 
long  walks  of  five  and  even  ten  miles  on  his  exchanges.  He 
travelled  much  on  foot  over  his  extensive  parish.  He  was 
seldom  unable  to  preach ;  but  two  Sabbaths  in  forty  years. 
He  was  seldom  absent,  or  even  tardy,  at  Associational  meet 
ings.  He  attended  over  one  hundred  and  fifty  ecclesiastical 
councils  ;  and  did  a  large  part  of  the  editing  of  the  "  Christian 
Magazine,"  during  its  four  years'  continuance ;  and  was  in 
all  ministerial  labors  abundant. 

"  Mr.  Fisk  was  sound  in  doctrine,  fervent  in  his  devotions, 
and  active  and  laborious  in  his  efforts  to  do  good.  He  ex- 

*  Funeral  Sermon,  by  Rev.  Dr.  Storrs,  Braintree.  As  a  fact  illus 
trative  of  Mr.  FLsk's  reputation,  the  celebrated  Hannah  Adams  once 
said,  that  another  question  should  be  added  to  well-known  interroga 
tories  in  the  New  England  Primer,  '  Who  is  the  first  man,'  etc.,  viz. : 
'  Who  is  the  most  prudent  man  ?  Parson  Fisk,  of  Wrentham.' 


REV.   ELISHA    FISK.  155 

celled  in  the  carefulness  and  prudence  with  which  he  was 
accustomed  to  feel  his  way  through  difficulties,  and  to  com 
pose  conflicting  elements  just  ready  to  burst  into  a  storm. 

"  He  had  a  fondness  for  society,  was  eminently  social  in 
his  tastes,  and  acceptable  in  company.  His  vivacity  and 
interest  in  young  people  rendered  him  a  pleasant  friend  to 
all.  His  attachment  to  his  ministerial  brethren,  and  enjoy 
ment  in  their  society,  was  unbounded."* 

Mr.  Fisk  lived  long  enough  to  pass  through  the  regular 
and  usual  phases  of  a  pastor's  life ;  which  may  be  divided 
into  the  attractive  novelty  of  the  first  settlement,  the  period 
of  common-place  regard,  of  indifference,  of  burdened  uneasi 
ness,  of  reviving  veneration,  and,  if  he  live  long  enough  to 
celebrate  his  jubilee,  the  period  of  rare  relics,  of  whose  pos 
session  his  people  will  be  justly  proud. 

Mr.  Fisk  will  be  remembered  chiefly,  for  the  heavenly 
fervor  and  unction  of  his  prayers,  and  for  his  lively  interest  in 
children  and  youth.  His  apt  sayings  to  them,  have  a  warrant 
of  immortality  in  their  memories  for  at  least  half  a  century 
to  come. 

Mr.  Fisk  published  several  sermons ;  among  them  are,  1. 
Address  on  removing  the  bodies  of  Dea.  Tho.  Mann  and 
wife  into  a  tomb,  1813  ;  2.  Ord.  Sermon  of  Rev.  Martin 
Moore,  at  Natick,  1814 ;  3.  Sermon  before  the  Norfolk  Co. 
Education  Society,  1819;  4.  Funeral  Sermon  of  Maj.  Eras- 
tus  Emmons,  1820;  5.  Sermon  before  the  Mass.  Soc.  for  the 
promotion  of  Christian  Knowledge,  1822  ;  6.  Funeral  Ser 
mon  of  Mrs.  David  Fisher,  Esq.,  1827 ;  7.  Do.  Rev.  John 
Wilder,  1836;  8.  Two  Sermons  on  the  47th  anniversary  of 
his  settlement,  1846 ;  9.  Semi-centennial  Sermon  of  his 
settlement,  1849. 

•*  Obituary  Notice  in  Assoc.  Records. 


156     BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 


30.  REV.    SAMUEL    AUSTIN,    D.    D. 

Was  born  at  New  Haven,  Ct,,  7  Oct.,  1760.  He  was  the 
eldest  son  and  child  of  Samuel  and  Lydia  (Wolcot)  Austin. 
At  the  age  of  sixteen  he  took  his  father's  place  in  the  army, 
who  had  been  drafted  as  a  soldier,  and  did  military  duty  in 
New  York.  When  the  British  took  possession  of  the  city, 
he  obtained  a  discharge  and  returned  home.  He  taught 
school  two  or  three  years,  and  then  commenced  studying 
law  with  Judge  Chauncey,  of  New  Haven.  But  he  soon 
dropped  his  professional  studies,  and  began  upon  the  classics. 
In  one  year  he  fitted  himself  for  the  Sophomore  Class, 
which  he  entered  at  Yale  College,  1781.  In  the  same  year 
he  joined  the  College  Church.  He  graduated  1783,  with 
the  highest  honors  of  the  college,  in  a  class  of  forty-two 
members,  and  was  also  a  Dean  scholar.  He  recieved  A. 
M.  in  course  from  his  alma  mater,  and  also  from  New  Jersey, 
1785,  and  D.  D.  1807  from  Williams  College.  After  grad 
uation,  he  commenced  the  study  of  Theology  with  Rev. 
Jonathan  Edwards,  D.  D.,  then  settled  in  New  Haven.  At 
the  same  time,  he  taught  an  English  and  Grammar  school. 
In  1784,  he  took  charge  of  the  academy  at  Norwich. 

He  was  approbated  to  preach  the  Gospel,  12  Oct,  1784,  by 
the  New  London  Association,  and  on  the  following  Sabbath, 
preached  his  first  sermon  in  Chelsea,  now  Norwich  City. 
Soon  after,  he  preached  in  New  York,  and  received  an  unan 
imous  invitation  from  the  Middle  Dutch  Church,  to  settle  as 
colleague  with  Rev.  Dr.  Livingston.  He  declined  on  account 
of  scruples  at  the  half-way  covenant  there  practised.  He 
also  declined  a  call  to  settle  in  Hampton,  Ct. .  In  1786,  he 
was  invited  by  the  society  of  Fairhaven  in  New  Haven,  and 
was  ordained  there  9  Nov.,  1786.  His  class-mate,  afterwards 
Dr.  Morse,  of  Charlestown,  -was  ordained  Evangelist  at  the 
same  time.  After  three  years,  the  society  was  remerged  in 


EEV.    SAMUEL  AUSTIN,   D.D.  157 

Dr.  Edwards's  society,  and  Mr.  Austin  resigned,  19  Jan.,  1790. 
The  first  society  in  Worcester,  hearing  of  his  intention  to 
leave,  sent  him  an  invitation  to  resettle  with  them.  He  was 
installed  over  the  first  church  in  Worcester,  29  Sept.,  1790. 
In  1815,  he  was  invited  to  the  presidency  of  the  University 
of  Vermont,  at  Burlington,  Vt.  Into  this  office,  he  was  in 
ducted,  26  July,  1815.  He  continued  at  this  post  about 
six  years,  —  encountering  great  difficulties  in  resuscitating 
and  sustaining  the  institution,  —  and  resigned  in  1821. 
Hearing  of  the  feeble  and  destitute  state  of  the  church  in 
Newport,  over  which  Dr.  Hopkins  was  once  pastor,  he  offered 
to  come  and  supply  them,  an  offer  which  they  gladly  accepted. 
He  was  installed  at  Newport,  25  July,  1821.  But  his  health 
admonished  him  to  seek  a  less  laborious  post,  and  he  resigned 
the  pastoral  charge  in  1825,  and  withdrew  to  the  family  of 
John  W.  Hubbard,  Esq,  of  Worcester,  son  of  Mrs.  Austin's 
sister,  and  whom  they  had  brought  up  from  a  child.  But  this 
quiet  retreat  was  broken  up  suddenly,  by  Mr.  Hubbard's 
death.  The  inroads  of  aggravated  disease,  affliction,  and 
perplexities  in  the  settlement  of  his  nephew's  estate,  induced 
upon  Dr.  Austin  a  deep  melancholy  passing  into  a  temporary 
insanity,  to  which  he  had  an  inherited  constitutional  tendency, 
that  clouded  his  remaining  days. 

He  spent  the  year  1827  with  his  brother-in-law,  Mr.  John 
Hopkins,  of  Northampton.  In  1828,  he  went  to  reside  with 
his  nephew,  Rev.  Samuel  H.  Riddell,  of  Glastonbury,  Ct., 
where  he  died  4  Dec.,  1830,  in  his  71st  year. 

Dr.  Austin  married,  14  Sept.,  1788,  Miss  Jerusha  Hop 
kins,  daughter  of  Rev.  Dr.  Samuel  Hopkins,  of  Hadley.* 
She  survived  him.  They  had  no  children. 

Intellectually,  Dr.  Austin  sustained  a  high  rank  among 
scholars.  His  powers  of  conception  and  imagination,  to- 


*  See  Note  on  Dr.  Emmons,  No.  12. 
14 


158  ])  I  0  0  11  A  P  Il'l  C  A  L    S  K  !•]  T  0  II  K  S  . 

gether  witli  comparison  and  association  of  ideas,  were  unu 
sually  developed.  As  a  writer,  his  style  was  nervous,  copi 
ous,  and  unstudied.  Its  faults  were  those  of  redundance, 
difl'uscness,  and  occasional  negligence.  As  a  preacher,  he 
rank  CM!  among  the  most  able,  eloquent,  and  popular  of  Amer 
ican  divines.  His  manner  in  the  pulpit  was  solemn,  digni 
fied,  and  commanding.  Tin:  tones  of  his  voice  were  full  and 
flexible;  his  enunciation,  Tree  and  emphatic. 

His  doctrinal  tenets  were  thoroughly  Calvinistic  ;  in  gen 
eral  accordance  with  those  of  Kdwanls,  Bellamy,  and  Hop 
kins.  And  these  he  "  heartily  and  earnestly  inculcated  upon 
his  hearers."  He  instructed  many  students  in  theology, 
among  whom  may  be-  mentioned  Dr.  Samuel  Worcester,  of 
Salem,  and  Rev.  Leonard  Worcester,  of  IVacham,  Vt.,  who 
imbibed  hero  the  missionary  spirit,  bearing  fruit  so  rich  at 
this  day. 

Dr.  Austin  issued  several  publications;  among  them  the 
following  : 

1.  A  View  of  the  Church.  2.  Lectures  on  Baptism:  a 
review  of  Merrill's  Sermons,  1805.  3.  Reply  to  Merrill's 
Twelve  Lectures,  1800.  d.  Dissertations  on  the  several 
fundamental  art  ides  of  Christian  Theology,  182G.  Also,  the 
following  sermons:  on  1  )isinterestcd  Love,  171)0.  Funeral 
sermon  on  a  Mr.  and  Miss  Smith,  of  Kxeler,  N.  II.,  171)0. 
On  Death  of  Miss  Hannah  lilair,  171)4.  Thanksgiving  Ser 
mon,  171)7.  Ordination  Sermon  of  Rev.  Samuel  Worcester, 
171)8.  Of  Rev.  Leonard  Worcester,  1800.  Of  Rev.  War 
ren  Kay  and  Rev.  J.  M.  Whiton,  1808.  Dedication  at 
lladley,  1808.  Fast  Sermon,  1811.  Two  Fast  Sermons, 
1812.  Dedication  Sermon,  at  Worcester,  182-').  Sermon 
before  the  Mass.  Miss.  Soc.,  ISO.'J.  Fourth  of  July  Address, 
at  Worcester,  1825* 

*  Abrid^nl  from  his  Mnnuir,  in  (Juart.  He;;.  Vol.  IX.  p.  201. 


REV.     WILLIAM     W  A  R  R  E  X  .  159 


31.   REV.   WILLIAM   WARREN 

Was  born  in  New  Ipswich,  N.  H.  Graduated  at  Dart 
mouth,  1800 ;  studied  theology  with  Rev.  Dr.  Emmons, 
and  was  ordained,  at  Dighton,  in  1802  ;  dismissed  in  1815  ; 
and  removed  to  the  state  of  New  York,  where  he  entirely 
resigned  the  duties  and  designations  of  the  ministry,  and 
turned  to  the  practice  of  medicine.  The  date  and  place  of  his 
death  have  not  been  ascertained. 

Mr.  Warren  married  a  daughter  of  Capt.  John  Davis,  of 
Dighton,  and  left  a  large  family  of  children,  five  of  whom 
are  living. 

Mr.  Warren  was  endowed,  by  nature,  with  uncommon  men 
tal  abilities,  and  was  one  of  the  most  popular  preachers  in  Bris 
tol  county.  His  eminently  social  qualities  made  him  a  wel 
come  visitor  amongst  his  people,  who  delighted  to  show  their 
hospitality  in  the  way  universal  half  a  century  ago.  The  pas 
tor,  thus  cordially  treated,  formed  intemperate  habits,  which 
incapacitated  him  for  the  functions  of  the  ministry,  and  com 
pelled  him  to  resort  to  another  calling  and  another  region ; 
a  painful  fruit  of  those  usages  which  cannot  be  too  speedily 
expelled  from  every  vocation  and  every  region  of  society 
where  they  still  linger. 

32.    REV.   PRESERVED    SMITH 

Was  the  son  of  Elder  Ebenezer  Smith,  Baptist  minister 
of  Ashfield,  and  his  wife  Remember  (Ellis)  Smith,  daughter 
of  Richard  Ellis,  who  came  from  Ireland,  1617.*  He  was 

*  lie  was  sixth  in  descent  from  Rev.  Henry  Smith,  of  England. 
Settled  in  WeatUersfield,  Ct..  1641,  and  died  1648 ;  who,  tradition  avers, 
had  a  son  horn  on  the  passage,  which  was  called  Preserved,  a  name  still 
retained.  His  father  was  a  Baptist  preacher  72  years,  and  died  at  the 
age  of  90.  The  Elder,  when  to  be  married,  took  his  lady  behind  him, 
on  horseback,  from  Ashfield,  —  then  Huntstown,  —  to  Deerfield,  there 


160  BIOGRAPHICAL     SKETCHES. 

born  in  Ashfield,  25  June,  1759 ;  and,  at  an  early  age,  be 
came  a  member  of  the  Baptist  church. 

He  had  a  great  thirst  for  knowledge,  and  taught  himself 
in  arithmetic,  with  chalk  and  a  piece  of  bark.  The  sight  of 
a  Latin  grammar,  determined  him  to  learn  the  language. 

When  the  revolutionary  war  began,  he  entered  the  army 
and  served  five  campaigns  as  a  soldier.  He  was  present  at 
the  surrender  of  Burgoyne.  He  left  the  army  at  the  age  of 
nineteen,  *  bought  his  time  '  of  his  father,  purchased  a  piece 
of  ground,  paid  for  it  with  the  first  crop,  sold  it  at  an  advance, 
and  with  the  proceeds,  set  himself  to  carry  into  effect  his 
early  resolves  for  an  education. 

He  fitted  for  college  with  Rev.  Messrs.  Hubbard  of  Shel- 
burne  and  Murdock  of  Pawlet,  Vt.  He  entered  Brown  Uni 
versity  one  year  in  advance,  and  graduated  in  1786  ;  studied 
theology  with  Rev.  John  Emerson,  of  Conway,  and  was  ap 
probated  by  the  Hampshire  Association  in  the  spring  of  1787. 

He  was  ordained  at  Howe,  Nov.  1787,  and  dismissed  May, 
1804.  After  declining  an  invitation  to  resettle  in  Whiting- 
ham  and  Guilford,  Vt.,  he  was  installed  over  the  first  and 
second  churches  in  Mendon,  2  Oct.,  1805.  In  1812,  the 
people  of  Rowe  invited  him  to  return  to  them.  His  attach 
ments  to  his  former  parishioners,  and  the  labor  of  two 
churches,  attended  besides  with  some  unpleasant  differences, 
at  the  latter  place,  induced  him  to  accept,  and  he  was  dis 
missed  from  Mendon,  20  Oct.,  1812,  and  in  Dec.  was  reset 
tled  at  Rowe,  where  he  remained  until  July,  1832,  when  his 
age  induced  him  to  resign.  He  died  at  Warwick,  15  Aug., 
1834,  aged  75. 

Mr.  Smith  married,  1  Jan.,  1788,  Miss  Eunice  Wells, 
daughter  of  Col.  David  Wells  of  Shelburne.  Born  in  Col- 


being  no  minister  or  magistrate  nearer,  to  perform  the  ceremony  ;  and 
his  father  rode  another  horse,  before  him,  with  a  gun,  to  keep  off  the 
Indians.  This  was  in  1756. 


REV.     PRESERVED     SMITH.  161 

Chester,  Ct.,  12  May,  1764;  removed  to  Shelburne  with  the 
family  in  1771,  and  died  13  July,  1847,  aged  83.  They  had 
two  children. 

1.  Preserved,  jr.,  born  1  Aug.,  1789.     Grad.  B.  U.  1812. 
Rev.  settled  at  Warwick  30  years  ;  at  Pembroke,  4  years ; 
now  in  Deerfield. 

2.  Royal  Wells,  born  8  Sept.,  1799.    Grad.  Wms.  College, 
1818.     Died  while  preparing  for  the  ministry,  1820. 

Mr.  Smith  issued  but  few  publications.  Two  Masonic 
discourses  previous  to  1800,  and  a  farewell  discourse,  1804. 

"  He  was  a  great  student  through  life  ;  and,  in  the  last 
twenty  years  of  his  ministry,  much  devoted  to  the  study  of 
the  Scriptures,  especially  in  the  original,  and  various  trans 
lations.  His  sermons  were  mostly  extemporaneous,  rarely 
writing  them  in  full ;  and  they  were  replete  with  fresh 
thoughts  from  his  richly-stored  mind. 

"  His  theological  views  for  many  years  might  be  termed 
Trinitarian- Arminian  ;  but  towards  the  close  of  his  ministry, 
he  discarded  the  Trinitarian  dogma,  yet  he  did  not  like  to 
be  called  Unitarian.  He  thought  that  the  name  given  to  the 
disciples  at  Antioch  is  the  true  name  by  which  the  followers 
of  Christ  ought  to  be  called. 

"  Mathematics  and  astronomy  were  his  favorite  studies  for 
relaxation.  For  controversial  theology  he  had  no  taste. 
His  love  of  free  inquiry  led  him  to  advocate  freedom  of 
action,  and  oppose  combinations  for  their  tendency  to  abuse 
of  power.  In  manner,  he  was  affectionate  and  sincere ;  in 
conversation,  affable,  entertaining,  and  full  of  anecdote, — 
and  serene  in  his  old  age."* 

*  Abridged  from  a  biographical  sketch  of  Rev.  P.  Smith,  Greenfield, 
1 852,  in  pamphlet. 

14* 


162  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


33.    REV.    DAVID    HOLMAN 

Was  born  in  Button,  now  Millbury,  13  December,  1777. 
He  is  the  son  of  Mr.  David  and  Lucy  (Thurston)  Holman, 
and  brother  of  Rev.  Nathan  Holman,  and  descendant  of 
Solomon  Holman,  one  of  the  original  proprietors  and  settlers 
of  Sutton.*  He  experienced  the  power  of  the  Holy  Spirit 
while  preparing  for  college ;  entered  Brown  University, 
sophomore  class,  and  graduated  1803,  and  A.  M.  After 
graduation,  he  taught  in  an  academy  in  Cumberland,  R.  I. ; 
then  studied  theology,  first  with  his  brother,  Rev.  N.  Holman, 
of  Attleboro',  and  finally  with  Rev.  Dr.  Emmons.  He  after 
wards  had  charge,  for  six  months,  of  the  grammar-school  in 
Worcester. 

He  was  ordained  over  the  church  in  Douglas,  19  October, 
1808,  and  dismissed  17  August,  1842,  on  account  of  the 
feeble  state  of  his  health,  and  the  inability  of  the  society  to 
raise  his  support.  After  a  separation  of  some  six  years, 
during  which  time  he  preached  in  vacant  parishes,  Mr. 
Holman  was  recalled,  and  now,  for  three  years,  has  been  the 
stated  supply  of  the  people  for  whom  he  labored  as  pastor  for 
thirty-four  years  ;  —  a  rare  instance  of  reunion,  and  highly 
commendatory  of  both  him  and  them. 

Mr.  Holman  married  Miss  Clarissa  Packard,  daughter  of 
Rev.  Winslow  Packard,  of  Wilmington,  and  of  Abigail 
(Moore)  Packard,  afterwards  wife  of  Rev.  Dr.  Emmons. 

They  had  six  children,  of  whom  five  reached  maturity, 
and  two  still  live. 

1.  Daniel  W.,  married  Elizabeth  Aldrich  of  Mendon,  and 
was  suddenly  killed  by  a  wheel  in  a  factory,  at  about  thirty 
years  of  age. 

2.  Mary  Anne,  was  married  to  Samuel  Waters,  son  of 
Elder  S.  Waters  of  Millbury,  and  died  at  Chelmsford. 

*  See  Eev.  N.  Holman.  Sketches  of  Members,  No.  26. 


REV.     DAVID    II  0  L  M  A  X  .  1G3 

3.  Florella  Mills,  was  the  wife  of  Rev.  Jonathan   Grout, 
now  of  Coolville,  Ohio,  and  died  in  Westboro'. 

4.  Edward  More,  married  Sarah,  daughter  of  Capt.  Peter 
Butler,  of  Oxford,  and  is  now  Civil  Engineer  in  Worcester. 

5.  Daughter  residing  with  her  parents. 
Mrs.  Ilolman  died  14  November,  1823. 

His  second  wife  was  Miss  Lois  Adams,  daughter  of  Lieut. 
Abner  Adams,  of  jSTorthbridge.  She  died  9  September,  1831  ; 
and  he  married  Miss  Sarah  Cannon  of  Greenwich,  daughter 
of  Mr.  Cornelius  and  Mary  Cannon,  and  sister  of  Rev.  Josiah 
Cannon  of  Gill,  and  of  Rev.  Frederic  E.  Cannon  of  Geneva, 
N.  Y. 

Mr.  Holman  furnishes  the  following  incidents  for  insertion 
in  this  sketch  :  — 

"  I  worked  on  the  paternal  farm  until  about  twenty-one. 
My  advantages  for  even  a  common  school  education  were 
very  small.  About  eight  weeks  in  the  winter,  in  an  old 
smoky  school-house,  with  a  teacher  that  would  be  called,  at 
this  day,  an  ignoramus,  comprised  them  all.  I  had  good  and 
salutary  religious  instruction  in  my  father's  family.  My  par 
ents  were  pious.  The  Bible  was  read  daily,  and  prayer  was 
offered.  The  Catechism,  next  to  the  Bible,  was  the  text 
book  of  the  family,  and  from  it,  every  Sabbath,  lessons  of 
instruction  were  imparted  to  us.  "When  I  became  of  age,  I 
was  influenced  and  encouraged  to  obtain  a  liberal  education. 
But  to  accomplish  this,  I  must  rely  mainly  upon  my  own 
resources." 

The  church  in  Douglas,  at  the  date  of  his  settlement,  was 
in  a  very  weak  and  feeble  state.  It  embraced  27  members, 
9  males  and  18  females,  —  most  of  them  very  aged  and 
infirm.  He  says,  "They  had  never  been  accustomed  to 
occasional  meetings.  As  to  revivals,  they  had  heard  but 
little  said  about  them  since  the  days  of  Edwards  and  White- 
field.  But  during  the  first  year  of  my  ministry  here,  God  in 
mercy  granted  a  time  of  refreshing  from  his  presence.  It 


164  BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES. 

was  the  beginning  of  a  series  of  revivals,  which,  during  my 
ministry,  brought  into  the  church  226  members.  About  .70 
have  been  dismissed,  including  about  35  to  form  the  church 
in  East  Douglas."  In  his  farewell  sermon  to  his  people,  Mr. 
Holman  says,  "  During  these  34  years,  we  have  enjoyed  no 
less  than  seven  revivals,  besides  some  intervening  drops  of 
mercy.  In  1809,  18  were  added  to  the  church.  In  1813 
and  14,  10  were  added.  In  1819  and  20,  18  were  joined. 
In  1824,  we  were  favored  with  an  extraordinary  and  signal 
display  of  God's  power  and  grace.  The  whole  town,  to 
gether  with  the  surrounding  region,  seemed  to  be  shaken." 
Soon  after  the  death  of  the  pastor's  wife  the  work  commenced. 
The  Spirit  of  the  Lord  came  down  with  great  power.  Sin 
ners  were  pricked  in  the  heart,  and  the  cries  of  the  wounded 
were  soon  succeeded  by  the  songs  of  the  redeemed.  Busi 
ness  was  in  a  great  measure  laid  aside.  The  brethren  went 
from  house  to  house,  praying  and  exhorting  the  people. 
Our  meetings  were  crowded,  still,  and  solemn.  Divine  truth 
preached  seemed  to  be  pressed  upon  the  conscience  and 
heart  by  the  Spirit  of  God.  There  was  no  noise,  no  crying 
out.  There  was  opposition.  But  a  number  of  the  most 
bitter  and  violent  opposers  were  overcome,  and  hopefully 
converted.  During  the  year,  we  have  reason  to  believe,  as 
many  as  150  were  converted. 

34.    REV.   ELISHA   ROCKWOOD 

Was  bora  in  Chesterfield,  N.  H.,  9  May,  1778.  He  was 
the  oldest  son  of  Elisha  and  Abigail  (Stone)  Rockwood,  and 
had  two  sisters  older,  and  three  brothers  younger,  all  of  whom 
lived  to  have  families.*  He  fitted  for  college  at  Chesterfield 

*  Rev.  Mr.  Rockwood's  direct  ancestral  line  is  as  follows :  — 
1.  Nicholas  Rockett,  or  Rockwood,  of  Wrentham,  probably  in  Med- 
h'eld,  1661,  and  the  son  of  Richard  Rockett,  of  Dorchester,  prior  to 


KEV.     ELISHA     ROCK  WOOD.  165 

Academy,  and  graduated  at  Dartmouth,  1802,  A.  M. ;  and 
also  at  Harvard.  He  then  taught  an  academy  at  Plymouth 
two  years,  and  was  tutor  in  Dartmouth  College  two  years, 
from  1804  to  1806.  In  1804,  he  hopefully  experienced 
religion,  and  united  with  the  church  in  Chesterfield  in  1805. 
He  studied  theology  while  tutor,  and  was  approbated  by  the 
Londonderry  Presbytery  in  1806.  He  preached  afterwards 
in  Woodstock  and  Barnard,  Vt. ;  in  Bernardston,  Springfield, 
Ashn'eld,  Brimfield,  and  Dorchester,  and  was  ordained  in 
Westboro',  28  Oct.,  1808.  He  was  dismissed  11  March, 
1835,  and  preached  as  a  supply  in  Attleboro',  Weymouth, 
and  Sherborn ;  in  York,  and  South  Berwick,  Me.,  and  was 
installed  in  Swansey,  N.  H.,  16  Nov.,  1836,  where  he  still 
officiates  as  pastor. 

During  Mr.  Rockwood's  ministry  in  Westboro',  there  were 
precious  seasons  of  revival,  and  354  were  added  to  the 
church. 

Mr.  Rockwood  married,  2  Oct.,  1809,  Susanna  B.  Park- 
man,  daughter  of  Breck  Parkman,  Esq.,  by  whom  he  had 
five  children. 

1.  Elisha  Parkman,  died  aged  16|  years. 

2.  William  Otis,  married  Helen  Mar  More,  of  Illinois,  and 
lives  in  Shelbyville,  Indiana. 

1636,  (sec  Dr.  Harris's  List  of  Settlers.)  who  is  supposed  to  have  come 
from  England. 

2.  Nathaniel   Rockwood,    of  "Wrcntham,   born    1665,   and  married 
Joanna  Ellis,  1 698.     His  youngest  son  was 

3.  Elisha    Rockwood.   born   Wrentham,   1716;    married   Elizabeth 
Adams  of  Sherborn,  1738,  and  soon  removed  to  Grotori,  and  settled  as 
clothier  and  farmer.     Hie  oldest  son  was 

4.  Elisha  Rockwood,  born  in  Groton,  1740  ;  married  Abigail  Stone, 
of  Groton,  1771;  removed  to  Chesterfield,  N.  H.,  amongst  the  first 
settlers;  joined  with  the  church,  and  died  there,  —  he  in  his  92d  and 
she  in  her  63d  year.     Their  third  child,  and  oldest  son,  was 

5.  Elisha  Rockwood,  the  subject  of  the  above  sketch.  —  Letter  of  Rev. 
E.  Itockwood,  Swansey,  N.  If. 


166       BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

3.  Susan  Brigham,  was  married  to  Dea.  C.  C.  Denny,  of 
Keene,  N.  H.,  and  died  in  1843,  leaving  one  son,  Henry 
Rockwood  Denny. 

4.  Hannah  Abagail,  is  the  wife  of  Dexter  Brigham,  Jr.,  of 
the  firm  of  Harnden  &  Co.,  Boston. 

5.  Robert  Breck,  died  at  3  days  old. 

Mrs.  Rockwood  died  at  Westboro',  4  June,  1836,  and  he 
married  Mrs.  Emily  W.  Herrick,  relict  of  Rev.  Osgood 
Herrick,  late  of  Millbury.  She  still  lives. 

Mr.  Rockwood  has  published  several  sermons :  1.  Ordina 
tion  Sermon  of  Rev.  Cyrus  Mann,  Westminster.  2.  A  Cen 
tury  Sermon,  in  Westboro',  1808.  3.  A  Dedicatory  Sermon. 
4.  Farewell  Sermon  at  W.,  1835.  5.  Funeral  Sermon  of 
Rev.  John  Sabin,  1845. 

35.    REV.    SAMUEL    W.    COLBURN 

Is  the  son  of  Mr.  Asa  Colburn,  of  Lebanon,  N.  H.  His 
mother  was  sister  of  Rev.  Dr.  S.  Wood  of  Boscawen,  N.  H., 
by  whom  he  was  adopted  and  educated.  Graduated  at 
Dartmouth,  1808 ;  ordained  in  West  Taunton,  29  August, 
1809,  and  dismissed  in  feeble  health,  9  Dec.  1812.  As 
health  permitted,  he  labored  some  time  as  missionary  in  R.  I. 
Installed  in  East  Abington,  3d  ch.,  13  Oct.,  1813;  dis 
missed  5  Feb.,  1830.  Several  years  agent  of  the  Am.  Doct. 
Tract  and  Book  Society.  Preached  a  year  at  Newark,  N.  J., 
two  years  at  West  Attleboro',  and  three  years  at  Sandwich. 
From  July  1835  to  July  1838  were  spent  at  Little  Compton, 
R.  I.  His  present  residence  is  South  Weymouth.  He  has 
published  severaroccasional  sermons.  The  Doctrinal  Tracts, 
Nos.  9  and  16,  are  from  his  pen. 

Mr.  Colburn  married  Miss  Ruth  Cogswell,  daughter  of 
Nehemiah  and  Ruth  Cogswell,  of  Boscawen,  N.  H.,  and  has 
three  children.  One  is  the  wife  of  Mr.  Albert  Reed,  of 
New  York  ;  the  second  married  Mr.  Theron  V.  Shaw,  South 


REV.    JACOB    IDE,    D.  D.  167 

Weymouth  ;  and  the  third  is  wife  to  Mr.  B.  A.  Smith,  Prin 
cipal  of  Leicester  Academy.* 

36.    REV.    JACOB    IDE,  D.  D., 

The  son  of  Mr.  Jacob  Ide,  of  Attleborough,  was  born  in 
Attleborough,  1786.  f  He  graduated  at  Brown  University, 
1809,  and  A.  M.,  whence  he  received  the  honorary  degree 
of  8.  T.  D.,  1827  ;  and  studied  theology  at  Andover,  where 
he  was  graduated,  1812.  He  was  ordained  over  the  church 
in  West  Medway,  2  November,  1814,  and  there  still  con 
tinues. 

Dr.  Ide  married  Mary  Emmons,  daughter  of  Rev.  N. 
Emmons,  D.  D.,  of  Franklin.  Of  his  children,  the  oldest 
son  living,  Jacob,  Jr.,  graduated  at  Amherst  College,  1848  ; 
and  is  preparing  for  the  ministry.  His  youngest  daughter, 
Mary,  was  married  to  Rev.  Charles  T.  Torrey. 

Dr.  Ide  was  one  of  the  editors  of  the  "  Christian  Maga 
zine,"  published  in  the  Association,  and  enriched  its  pages 
with  his  communications.  He  has  published  several  occa 
sional  discourses,  and  edited  a  new  and  uniform  edition  of 
Dr.  Emmons's  Works,  to  which  he  prefixed  an  able  exhibition 
of  the  life  of  the  author.  He  has  also  superintended  the 
theological  studies,  wholly  or  in  part,  of  forty-one  candidates 
for  the  ministry.]: 

*  Letter  of  llev.  S.  W.  Colburn,  South  Weymouth. 

t  His  New  England  ancestry  originates  in  Nicholas  Ide.  Rehoboth, 
1645.  Nicholas,  Jr.,  b.Nov..  1654.,m.  Mary  Ormsby  and  had  7  ch.  Ja 
cob,  his  second  son,  m.  Sarah  Perry  and  had  2ch.,  Sarah,  and  Jacob,  b. 
26  Sept.,  1723.  He  was  father  of  Jacob,  and  grandfather  to  Rev.  Jacob 
Ide,  D.  D.,  above. 

f  His  students  are,  Rev.  Messrs.  *  Sewall  Harding,  *  David 
Brigham,  *  Zolva  Whitmorc,  *  John  M.  Putnam,  *  George  Fisher, 

*  Henry  H.  F.  Swett,  *  James  0.  Barney,  *Levi  Packard,  

Cone,  of  E.  Haddam,  Ct.,  M.  S.  Hagar, Morrell,  of  Boscawen,  N. 


168  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

37.   KEY.  ALVAN    COBB 

Is  the  son  of  Timothy  and  Deborah  (Church)  Cobb,  and 
is  a  native  of  Carver.*  He  graduated  at  Brown  University, 
1813,  and  A.  M. ;  and  studied  theology  with  Rev.  Otis 
Thompson,  of  Rehoboth.  He  was  ordained  over  the  church 
in  West  Taunton,  19  April,  1815,  where  he  still  labors. 

Mr.  Cobb  married  Mary,  daughter  of  Hon.  Elijah  and 
Rebecca  Ingraham,  of  Pawtucket.  She  died  13  September, 
1846,  having  had  two  children,  one  of  whom  survives.  He 
next  married  Miss  Abiah  F.  Homer,  of  Boston. 

Mr.  Cobb's  chief  publications  are :  1.  Funeral  Sermon  of 
Mrs.  Rebecca  Talbot,  N.  Y.,  1825.  2.  Sermon  on  «  Fore 
fathers'  Day,"  Plymouth,  1831.  3.  Ordination  Sermon  of 
Rev.  C.  Simmons,  Attleborough,  1832.  4.  Funeral  Sermon 
of  Mrs.  Hannah  Walker,  Taunton,  1838.  5  Ordination 
Sermon  of  Rev.  David  Tilton,  Edgartown,  M.  V.,  1835.  6. 
Funeral  Sermon  of  Rev.  Joseph  H.  Bailey,  Dighton,  1844. 
7.  Doctrinal  Tract,  No.  23,  —  besides  many  articles  in 
periodicals. 

Mr.  Cobb  has  had  charge  of  the  theological  instruction 
of  nine  students. f 

H.,  *  Gilbert  Fay,  *  Lucius  W.  Clark,  *  Cyrus  W.  Conant,  Charles 
R.  Fisk,  *  Varnum  Noyes,  *  John  Forbush,  *  Isaac  E.  Heaton,  *  Ch's 
T.  Torrey,  *  Eli  Thurston,  *  Thomas  Edwards,  *  John  Dwight,  *  Ed 
mund  Dowse,  *  Charles  Chamberlain,  *  Daniel  J.  Poor,  Samuel  Vial, 
*  Samuel  Hunt,  *  Abram  Jenkins,  Jr.,  *  Richard  C.  Spofford,  *  Jo 
seph  H.  Bailey,  *  William  Phipps.  Jr.,  *  Jonathan  Grout,  =*  William 
M.  Thayer,  *  Preston  Pond,  Jr.,  *  Horace  D.  Walker,  *  Allen  Lincoln, 
William  S.  Lcavctt.  Asa  Bullard,  *  Malachi  Bullard,  *  James  M.  Ba 
con,  Jacob  Ide,  Jr.  Some  of  these  remained  but  a  short  time.  Those 
starred  are  elsewhere  mentioned. 

=*  His  ancestry  are  found  in  Plymouth  Colony.     His  grandfather, 
Nathan,  was  brother  to  Ebenezer  Cobb,  of  Kingston,  who  attained  the  - 
age  of  one  hundred  and  eight. 

t  They  are  Rev.  Messrs.  *  Silas  Shores,  *  James  Tisdale,  *  Charles 


REV.    JOSEPH  US    WH  EATON.  169 

38.    REV.    JOSEPHUS    WHEATON 

Was  born  in  Rehoboth,  16  March,  1788,  and  was  the  son 
of  Joseph  Wheaton,  Esq.  He  early  evinced  a  strong  thirst 
for  knowledge,  and  by  his  own  ingenuity  and  perseverance 
obtained  the  trade  of  shoemaker,  the  avails  of  which  enabled 
him  to  obtain  an  education.  He  entered  the  Sophomore  class 
in  Brown  University,  and  graduated  in  1812,  one  of  the  best 
scholars  in  his  class  ;  among  whom  was  Rev.  C.  Kingsbury, 
missionary  to  the  Choctaws,  his  room-mate  and  dear  friend. 
He  made  profession  of  religion  while  in  college  ;  and  after 
graduation,  studied  for  the  ministry  with  Rev.  Otis  Thompson, 
of  his  native  town.  At  the  same  time  he  had,  for  a  while, 
the  preceptorship  of  George-street  Academy,  Providence ; 
and  was  tutor  in  the  college  from  1813  to  1815.  He  was 
approbated  while  in  the  University,  and  commenced  supply 
ing  the  pulpit  in  Holliston,  vacated  by  the  death  of  Rev.  Mr. 
Dickinson.  He  was  ordained  pastor  of  the  Church  in  Hol 
liston,  6  December,  1815.  Rev.  Otis  Thompson  preached  the 
sermon.  A  pulmonary  disease  soon  made  its  appearance, 
with  which  he  contended  about  three  years.  The  latter  part 
of  the  time  he  was  blind  —  until  he  died,  4  February,  1825, 
at  nearly  the  age  of  thirty-seven,  and  in  the  tenth  year  of 
his  ministry. 

Mr.  Wheaton  married  first,  Mary,  the  only  daughter  of 
Daniel  and  Sarah  Ide,  of  Franklin.  Her  father  died  in  her 
infancy,  and  she  was  brought  up  in  the  family  of  Peter 
Hunt,  Esq.,  of  Seekonk,  to  whom  her  mother  was  married. 
This  alliance  continued  only  from  January,  1816  to  July, 
1817,  when  Mrs.  Wheaton  died  of  consumption.  Mr. 
Wheaton's  second  wife  was  Miss  Abby  Fales,  whom  he  left 

J.  Warren.  Martin  Cushman,  Michael  Burclette,  David  Tilton,  H.  Au 
gustus  Woodman,   Robinson,  ^  Thomas  T.   Richmond.      The 

starred  are  included  in  this  volume. 

15 


170  BIOGRAPHICAL     SKETCHES. 

a  widow  with  three  children.  She  was  subsequently  mar 
ried  to  Dea.  Benjamin  Shepherd,  of  Wrentham,  15  .No 
vember,  1838,  and  died  in  Wrentham.  Their  children  were, 

1.  Francis,  grad.  Brown,  1840,  and  now  practising  Law. 

2.  Henry  Stewart,  grad.  Brown,  1841,  now  a  Lawyer  in 
California. 

3.  Mary  and  Louisa. 

Mr.  Wheaton  excelled  in  an  intimate  acquaintance  with 
the  classics,  and  his  talents  as  an  instructor,  drew  many  youth 
to  him  for  qualification  for  college. 

"  As  a  preacher  he  was  instructive,  animated,  and  animating. 
His  delivery  was  uncommonly  rapid,  yet  natural,  and  made 
him  a  highly  acceptable  preacher.  His  conciliating  deport 
ment,  amiable  temper,  and  dignified,  yet  unaffected  manners 
won  the  affections  of  those  who  were  not  always  pleased  with 
his  theological  sentiments,  which  closely  resemble  those  of 
his  predecessor,  and  were  decidedly  what  are  termed  Hopkin- 
sian.  He  united  his  people  when  they  were  not  a  little  dis 
cordant,  and  retained  their  respect,  confidence,  and  affection, 
to  the  close  of  his  life.  Humility  was  the  distinguishing  fea 
ture  of  his  piety :  and  it  shone  with  brightness  during  his 
long  and  painful  sickness." 

Mr.  Wheaton  published  several  occasional  sermons. 
Among  them :  1.  A  Fast  Sermon,  on  the  Equality  of  Man 
kind,  and  the  Evils  of  Slavery  :  1820. 

2.  A  Funeral  Sermon  of  Miss  Sarah  Emnions :  1823. 

3.  Dedication  Sermon  of  the  meeting-house,  Holliston,  5 
Nov.,  1823. 

39.   KEY.   THOMAS   WILLIAMS, 

The  son  of  Joseph  Williams,*  was  born  in  Pomfret,  Ct.,  5 
Nov.,  1779,  graduated  at  Yale  College,  1800,  and  A.  M.  in 

*  His  immigrant  Ancestor  was  Robert  "Williams,  of  Roxbury,  from 


REV.    THOMAS    WILLIAMS.  171 

course  :  also  A.  M.  at  Brown  Univ.,  1814.  After  graduation, 
he  taught  a  Colored  school  in  Boston,  of  a  hundred  scholars. 
In  1804,  May,  he  was  approbated  to  preach,  by  the  Windham 
Evangelical  Association,  when  he  returned  to  Boston,  and 
officiated  as  chaplain  to  the  almshouse.  At  the  close  of  his 
engagement,  he  went  as  a  missionary  to  Otsego,  Delaware  Co., 
N.  Y.,  under  the  direction  of  the  Conn.  Dom.  Miss.  Society. 
On  his  return,  he  was  ordained  in  Providence,  R.  I.,l  Jan. ,1807. 
Spent  six  weeks  with  Rev.  Dr.  Emmons,  reading  Ecclesias 
tical  writers,  and  then  acted  as  stated  supply  to  the  Richmond 
St.  Church,  in  Providence,  until  1816,  when  he  removed  to 
Foxboro',  where  he  was  installed,  16  Nov.,1816,and  continued 
until  24  Oct.,  1821.  He  preached  in  Attleboro'  from  29  Sept., 
1824,  until  11  Dec.,  1827 ;  in  Hebronville,  in  the  same  town, 
until  April,  1832;  then  in  Barrington,  R.  I,  until  1838; 
since  which  last  date,  he  has  resided  in  Providence,  laboring 
in  destitute  parishes.  He  has  never  viewed  himself  as  reg 
ularly  settled  over  any  individual  Church,  but  as  set  apart 
to  do  the  work  of  an  Evangelist,  or  "  Job  work,"  as  he  signif 
icantly  terms  it. 

Mr.  Williams  was  one  of  the  originators  of  the  Evan. 
Consociation  of  Rhode  Island,  drafted  its  articles  of  Faith 
and  Rules,  and  was  the  first  scribe  of  the  body. 

Mr.  Williams  married  Miss  Ruth  Hale,  of  Newbury,  and 
has  had  seven  children.  His  second  son,  Nathan  Ritter, 
graduated  at  Yale,  and  was  ordained  at  Shrewsbury,  28  Feb., 
1849. 

Mr.  Williams  has  published  several  volumes  and  pamph 
lets.  The  following  list  is  nearly  complete. 

1.  Volume  of  ten  sermons  on   Election,  Hartford,  1810. 


Norwich,  England.  Freeman,  LG38.  He  had  four  sons.  Samuel,  Dea.  in 
Roxbury ;  Isaac,  settled  in  Newton,  ancestor  of  the  founder  of  Wms. 
Coll. ;  Stephen,  Thomas.  The  ancestral  line  is,  Robert,  2.  Dea.  Sam 
uel,  3.  Samuel,  Jr.,  4.  William,  one  of  the  first  settlers  inPomfret,  Ct., 
and  brother  to  the  first  minister,  5.  Joseph,  6.  Rev.  Thomas,  above. 


172      BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

2.  Sermon  on   the  peace  between  the  U.  S.  and  Great 
Britain,  1815. 

3.  Sermon  on  the  National  Thanksgiving  for  peace,  1815. 

4.  Ordination  Sermon  of  Rev.  Emerson  Paine,  1 4  Feb.,  1816. 

5.  Sermon  on  Psalmody,  1817  ;  another  in  1823. 

6.  Dedication  Sermon  at  Foxboro',  1  Jan.,  1823. 

7.  Volume  of  seven  sermons,  Providence,  1823. 

8.  Funeral  Sermon  of  Mrs.  Chloe  Read,  Attleboro',  1826. 

9.  On  the  effects  of  the  Gospel  on  the  day  of  Pentecost. 

10.  Volume  of  twelve  sermons,  Providence,  1832. 

11.  Sermon  on  Rhode  Island  Protestantism,  1836. 

12.  "Domestic  Chaplain,"  —  twenty -four  short   sermons, 
Hartford,  1839. 

13.  Funeral  Sermon  of  Rev.  Dr.  Emmons,  1840. 

14.  Discourse  on  the  Battle  of  the  Great  Day,  1849. 

15.  Sermon  on  Theological  and  Evangelical  Orthodoxy, 
1850. 

16.  Discourse  on  the  Life  and  Death  of  Oliver  Shaw,  1851. 

17.  Volume  on  the  Official  Character  of  Dr.  Emmons, 
1851. 

Mr.  Williams  also  contributed  very  many  articles  in  the 
Conn.  Ev.  Magazine  and  Panoplist. 

40.   REV.    CALVIN   PARK,   D.   D, 

"Was  the  son  of  Nathan  Park,  and  was  born  in  North- 
bridge,  11  Sept.,  1774.  He  graduated  at  Brown  University, 
1797,  and  A.  M. ;  and  from  which  he  received  the  degree  of 
S.  T.  D.,  1818.  He  studied  theology  with  Rev.  Dr.  Austin 
of  Worcester.  In  1800,  he  accepted  the  office  of  Tutor  in  his 
Alma  Mater,  which  office  he  filled  until  1804,  when  he  was 
elected  Professor  of  Languages.  In  1811,  he  took  the  chair 
of  Moral  Philosophy  and  Metaphysics,  and  continued  in  it 
until  his  resignation,  1825. 

He  preached,  from  the  beginning  of  his  connection  with 
the  college,  in  destitute  churches  in  the  vicinity,  but  he  was 


REV.    CALVIN   PARK,    D.D.  173 

not  ordained  until  1815,  May  17  ;  when,  at  his  request,  the 
Mention  Association  convened  at  Franklin,  and  he  was  there 
inducted  into  the  sacred  office,  as  Evangelist.  Rev.  Dr. 
Crane,  of  his  native  town,  preached  the  sermon.  After  the 
resignation  of  his  professorship,  he  commenced  preaching  to 
the  Evangelical  church  in  Stoughton.  He  was  installed  as 
pastor,  13  Dec.,  1826.  In  1840,  he  resigned-  the  pastoral 
charge,  but  still  resided  in  the  town  until  his  death,  5  Jan., 
1847,  the  same  day  on  which  died  his  near  and  well-loved 
brother  in  the  ministry,  Rev.  Daniel  Thomas  of  Abington, 
in  the  73d  year  of  his  age.  His  last  words  were  :  "  It  is 
well  that  we  are  not  always  to  live." 

Dr.  Park  married  Miss  Abigail  Ware  of  Wrentham,  the 
daughter  of  Mr.  Nathaniel  and  Abigail  Ware.  He  had  three 
children  : 

1.  Harrison  G.,  Rev.,  now  in  Burlington.  (See  Members, 
No.  51). 

2.  Edwards  A.,  Rev.,  S.  T.  D.  and  Divinity  Professor  in 
Andover  Theological  Seminary.     He  married  Miss  Maria 
Edwards,  daughter  of  Wm.  Edwards,  of  Hunter,   Greene 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  recently  deceased  at  Brooklyn. 

3.  Calvin   E.,  Rev.,   and   pastor   of  the    Congregational 
Church  in  West  Boxford.     He  married  Miss  Harriet  T., 
daughter  of  Joseph  Pope  of  Portland,  Me.,  deceased. 

The  following  extract  from  a  biographical  sketch  of  Dr. 
Park,  on  the  Records  of  this  Association,  is  deemed  pertinent 
and  truthful :  — 

"  As  a  teacher,  he  was  apt,  faithful,  and  thorough.  If  any 
under  his  care  were  not  good  scholars,  the  fault  was  not  in 
him.  He  possessed  a  clear,  discriminating  mind,  and  sound 
judgment.  He  was  not  satisfied  with  looking  at  the  mere 
surface  of  things,  but  disposed  to  examine  elements  and  prin 
ciples  ;  and  was  one  who  could  see  effects  in  their  causes. 

"  As  to  character  and  habits,  he  was  correct,  stable,  con 
scientious,  pious,  and  devout.  Although  he  had  great  sen- 

15* 


174      BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

sibility  and  quickness  of  feeling,  yet  his  passions  were  under 
control.  No  one,  it  is  presumed,  ever  found  confidence  in 
him  misplaced. 

"  His  mind  was  of  a  meditative  and  pensive  cast.  As  a 
moralist  and  divine,  he  had  no  superior.  His  views  of  the 
great  doctrines  of  the  Gospel  were  strictly  Calvinistic.  They 
were  his  own ;  made  so  not  by  adoption,  but  by  a  careful 
examination  of  evidence.  He  knew  what  and  why  he 
believed.  So  rooted  and  grounded  was  he  in  the  truth, 
that  he  was  not  shaken  by  any  of  the  new  or  plausible 
theories  which  came  up  in  the  religious  community. 

u  As  a  preacher,  he  was  clear,  definite,  instructive,  solemn, 
and  impressive.  He  fully  and  faithfully  preached  what  he 
believed.  His  aim  in  his  sermons  was  at  the  understanding, 
conscience,  and  heart  of  his  hearers.  But  few  preachers, 
with  his  compass  of  voice,  or  even  with  a  much  greater,  could 
keep  an  audience  more  still  and  attentive. 

"  He  was  not  a  man  of  noise  and  display,  but  of  sound 
thought  and  close  reasoning.  He  felt,  and  he  made  his 
hearers  feel." 

41.    REV.    DANIEL    THOMAS, 

The  son  of  Daniel  Thomas,  was  born  in  Middleboro',  1779, 
and  graduated  at  Brown  University,  1803,  and  A.  M.  He 
studied  theology  with  Rev.  O.  Thompson,  of  Rehoboth,  and 
was  ordained  over  the  second  church  in  Abington,  south 
parish,  1  June,  1808.  He  successfully  labored  there  until 
his  dismission,  1842.  He  died  5  Jan.,  1847,  in  the  68th 
year  of  his  age. 

Mr.  Thomas  was  never  married.  He  was  betrothed  in  the 
early  part  of  his  ministry,  to  a  very  lovely  and  respectable 
lady  of  his  own  parish.  But  she  became  sick  and  was  con 
fined  to  her  bed,  most  of  the  time  for  thirty-seven  years. 
This  prevented  their  union ;  and  yet  it  showed  the  strength 


REV.     DANIEL    THOMAS.  175 

of  its  bond,  that  he  remained  true,  affectionate,  indulgent,  and 
gentle  in  the  trial,  and  never  sought  another,  considering  his 
engagement  morally  binding,  and  a  prevention  to  any  other 
connection. 

In  person,  he  was  tall,  spare,  and,  in  the  latter  part  of  his 
life,  emaciated  by  toil  and  disease.  He  had  a  dark,  kindling 
eye,  a  swelling,  symmetrical  forehead ;  and  in  his  whole 
appearance  chaste,  neat,  immaculate.  "  Without  spot"  was 
his  apparel ;  "  without  spot  or  wrinkle"  his  sermon. 

"  Pie  was  a  clear,  intelligent  preacher.  Everybody  under 
stood  him,  —  some  much  better  than  they  desired.  He  did 
not  make  spiritual  confectionary  of  his  sermons,  and  spice 
them  so  sparingly  with  Gospel  truth  as  just  to  keep  them 
from  being  fatal,  so  that  the  enemies  might  take  the  pre 
paration,  not  knowing  what  it  was.  Nor  did  he  whip  down 
the  high  doctrines  of  sovereignty,  decrees,  election,  depravity, 
the  law  and  the  atonement  into  delicious  rhetorical  sillabub, 
so  that  the  'babes  in  Christ'  might  take  unconsciously  what 
they  knew  not.  He  gave  them  the  'sincere  milk  of  the 
Word/  and  made  them  distinctly  understand  what  it  was. 

«  He  was  a  poet.  He  was  pleasantly  facetious,  and  his 
wit  was  sensible,  adding  life,  cheerfulness,  and  power  to  great 
principles. 

«  His  character  might  not  inappropriately  be  compared  for 
chasteness  and  beauty  to  a  Grecian  pillar  of  Parian  marble, 
—  pure,  symmetrical,  finished. 

"  Having  been  in  feeble  health  for  more  than  a  year,  on 
the  10th  of  December,  he  was  taken  suddenly  more  ill,  and 
laid  down  to  die.  His  mind  was  clouded,  and  his  mental 
faculties  seemed  to  be  paralized.  Reason  struggled  hard  to 
retain  her  seat,  and  at  intervals  would  assert  her  sway.  But 
it  was  evident  she  had  yielded  her  empire  to  disease.  In  the 
midst  of  this  mental  darkness,  there  was  the  man,  the  Chris 
tian,  the  minister,  meek,  patient,  gentle,  holy.  On  the 
morning  of  January  5,  he  faintly  whispered,  'I  am  going 


176  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

home,'  and  ceased  to  breathe.  Rev.  Mr.  Couch,  of  North 
Bridgevvater,  preached  his  funeral  sermon ;  and  his  dust  was 
committed  to  the  earth,  the  same  day  with  the  remains  of  his 
long  and  intimately  acquainted  friend  and  neighbor,  Rev.  Dr. 
Park,  of  Stoughton."* 

Mr.  Thomas  published  a  few  occasional  sermons  and 
poems. 

42.   REV.   JOHN    FERGUSON 

Was  born  9  Dec.,  1788,  in  Dunse,  Berwickshire,  Scotland. 
He  is  the  oldest  son  of  Mr.  John  Ferguson,  a  native  of  the 
same  town  in  1739.f  His  mother's  maiden  name  was  Ann 
Briggs,  a  native  of  Little  Compton,  R.  I.  Both  his  parents 
died  in  Newport,  R.  L,  and  each  at  the  age  of  85. 

At  20  years  of  age,  and  while  residing  in  Providence,  R.  I., 
he  began  preparing  for  the  ministry,  under  the  direction  of 
Rev.  C.  Park,  D.  D.,  then  professor  in  the  college.  He  did 
not  graduate,  but  received  an  honorary  A.  M.  from  Amherst 
College  in  1837. 

He  was  ordained  at  East  Attleboro',  as  successor  of  Rev. 
N.  Holman,27  Feb.,  1822,  was  dismissed  25  March,  1835. 
Installed  at  Whately,  16  March,  1836,  and  dismissed,  17 
June,  1840.  He  preached  about  two  years  in  Lanesboro', 
and  has  since  been  engaged  by  the  Am.  Tract  Society,  as 


*  Extract  from  Funeral  Sermon,  in  Puritan  Recorder. 

t  The  grandfather  of  Rev.  Mr.  Ferguson  was  a  native  of  the  High 
lands  of  Scotland.  He  belonged  to  the  Scotch  Greys,  —  a  regiment 
of  heavy  cavalry,  —  and  was  under  the  Duke  of  Marlborough  in  all  his 
wars.  He  was  brother  to  Rev.  —  Ferguson,  minister  of  the  parish  of 
Logierait,  in  Perthshire,  who  was  the  father  of  Doct.  Adam  Ferguson, 
the  historian,  and  predecessor  of  Dugald  Stewart  in  the  chair  of  Phi 
losophy,  at  Edinburgh.  He  died  in  1742.  Mr.  F.  above,  is  the  only 
male  representative  of  his  family,  excepting  his  own  children. 


REV.    MOSES   THACHER.  177 

General  Agent  for  New  Hampshire  and  Vermont.  His 
residence  is  at  Whately. 

Mr.  Ferguson  married  first,  Mary  V.,  daughter  of  Benja 
min  Hammett,  of  Newport,  R.  I.  His  present  wife  was 
Margaret  Snow  Eddy,  daughter  of  William  Eddy,  of  Provi 
dence,  R.  I.  He  has  had  eleven  children,  eight  of  whom  are 
living ;  viz. :  John ;  Mary  H.,  m.  to  Mr.  Stockbridge, 
Whately  ;  Peter ;  William  E. ;  George  R.,  grad.  Amherst 
Coll.,  1849 ;  Margaret  E.,  Teacher  in  the  Young  Ladies' 
Institute,  Pittsfield ;  James  A.,  and  Abby  Park. 

Mr.  Ferguson  has  published  several  sermons,  and  a  me 
moir  of  Dr.  S.  Hopkins,  of  Newport,  R.  I.,  for  Sabbath 
Schools. 

43.    REV.    MOSES    THACHER 

Is  the  son  of  Obadiah  and  Elizabeth  (Richardson)  Thacher, 
and  was  born  in  Princeton,  14  Nov.,  1795.*  Fitted  for 

*  His  immigrant  ancestor  was  Rev.  Thomas  Thacher,  son  of  Rev. 
Peter  Thacher.  of  Sarum,or  Salsbury, England.  He  was  born  1  May, 
1620,  arrived  in  Boston,  4  June,  1635,ord.  at  Wcymouth,  2  Jan.,  1645, 
inst.  pastor  of  the  Old  South  Church,  Boston,  16  Feb.,  1670,  and  d.  16 
Oct.,  1678,  aged  58.  He  m.  a  daughter  of  Rev.  Ralph  Partridge,  of 
Duxbury.  His  son.  Rev.  Pder,  b.  at  Salem,  1 8  July,  1 65 1 ,  ord.  at  Milton 
1  June,  1681.  and  d.  27  Dec,  1727,  ngcd  77.  He  m.  Theodora,  daughter 
of  Rev.  John  Oxenbridgc,  of  the  first  church,  Boston.  He  m.  2nd.,  the 
widow  of  Rev.  John  Bailey,  and  3d.,  the  widow  of  Rev.  Joshua  Gee, 
both  of  Boston.  He  had  9  ch.;  The  sixth,  was  Rev.  Peter,  b.  9  Oct., 
1688,  ord.  at  Middleboro'.  2  Nov.,  1709,  and  d.  22  April,  1744,  aged  56. 
He  m.  Mary,  sister  of  Rev.  Thomas  Prince,  of  the  Old  South  Ch., 
Boston ;  he  had  ten  ch.  The  eldest  was  Rev.  Peter,  ord.  in  East  Attle 
boro',  30  Nov.,  1748,  and  died  13  Sept.,  1785,  aged  70.  He  m  Bethiah, 
daughter  of  Obadiah  Carpenter,  of  Attleboro',  and  had  ten  ch. ;  one  of 
whom  was  Oladiak,  father  to  Rev.  Moses  above.  Of  the  last  two  genera 
tions  of  this  family,  six  arc  in  the  ministry,  and  over  one  hundred  now 
living  members  of  the  church.  Eighteen  of  them  joined  the  church  in 
Harford.  Pa.,  on  one  Sabbath,  in  1808.  See  Farmer,  History  of  Middle 
boro'  and  Daggett's  Attleboro',  and  Letter  of  Rev.  M.  Thacher. 


178  BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES. 

college,  partly,  with  Rev.  N.  Holman,  and  graduated  at  Brown 
University,  1821,  and  A.  M.  He  studied  Divinity  with  Rev. 
O.  Thompson,  of  Rehoboth,  and  was  ordained  at  North 
Wrentham,  20  Aug.,  1823,  and  dismissed,  30  Oct.,  1832. 
A  portion  of  the  church  withdrew,  and  was  constituted  a 
separate  church  over  whom  he  was  installed,  20  Feb.,  1833. 
In  1838,  he  left  New  England  for  the  Middle  States,  and  was 
installed  at  Wysox,  Pa.,  29  April,  1840.  Afterwards  he  was 
settled  four  and  a  half  years  at  Virgil,  Cortlandt  Co.,  N.  Y., 
and  is  now  pastor  of  the  church  in  Genoa,  Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y. 

Mr.  Thacher  married  Henrietta,  daughter  of  Stephen  and 
Lurana  Wilmarth,  of  Attleboro',  and  has  several  children. 

Mr.  Thacher  has  published :  1.  Funeral  Sermon  of  Mr. 
Shubael  Pratt,  of  Foxboro',  1822  ;  2.  do.  of  Mrs.  Naomi  F. 
Harlow,  wife  of  Rev.  William  Harlow,  of  North  Wrentham, 
1823  ;  3.  do.  on  the  death  of  his  mother,  1823  ;  4.  New  Eng 
land  Telegraph  as  a  weekly  religious  paper,  for  four  years, 
from  Jan.,  1831,  and  two  years  as  a  monthly  magazine;  5. 
several  Tractates  upon  Free  Masonry;  6.  on  Household 
Baptism  ;  7.  Confession  of  Faith  in  Scriptural  Quotations. 

44.  REV.  JAMES  O.  BARNEY 

Is  a  native  of  Providence,  R.  L,  where  he  was  born  30 
Sept.,  1795.  His  parents  were  Cromwell  and  Lydia  P. 
(Grinnell)  Barney.  At  the  age  of  fourteen,  he  was  seized 
with  a  strong  desire  to  visit  foreign  countries,  and  shipped  as 
a  sailor  to  gratify  this  wish.  His  seafaring  life,  though  short, 
—  being  terminated  by  the  Embargo  Act,  and  the  war  with 
England,  —  had  its  share  of  peril  and  suffering.  Once  he 
was  shipwrecked,  once  on  short  allowance,  and  once  nearly 
drowned  at  sea  in  a  long-boat.  He  then  went  to  Attleboro' 
to  learn  a  trade,  where  he  was  conquered  -to  Christ  by  the 
powerful  revival  of  1815,  under  Rev.  N.  Holman.  He 
joined  the  church,  2  July,  1815,  and  began  his  preparation  for 


REV.    WILLARD   PIERCE.  179 

the  ministry;  graduated  at  Brown  University  1821,  and  A. 
M. ;  and  studied  divinity  with  Rev.  Prof.  C.  Park,  and  Rev. 
Dr.  Ide.  He  was  ordained  at  Seekonk,  4  Feb.,  1824,  and 
was  dismissed,  13  May,  1850,  to  act  as  Seamen's  Chaplain, 
and  to  supply  the  pulpit  of  the  Fourth  Cong.  Church  in  the 
city  of  Providence.  He  returned  1  June,  1852,  to  his  form 
er  charge,  retaining,  however,  a  partial  chaplaincy  among 
seamen  at  the  port. 

Mr.  Barney  married  Eliza  Lathe,  daughter  of  Mr.  Zepha- 
niah  Lathe,  of  Charlton,  and  has  four  children.  Eliza  L., 
the  oldest,  is  married  to  Mr.  James  Walker,  grad.  Arnherst 
Coll.,  1844,  and  teacher  of  a  high  school  in  Taunton. 

45.    REV.   WILLARD   PIERCE 

Is  a  native  of  Stoughton,  where  he  was  born  15  March, 
1790.  He  was  the  son  of  Seth  Pierce,  Jr.  His  mother  was 
Alice,  daughter  of  Timothy  and  Elizabeth  Gay, of  Stoughton. 
Being  one  of  a  large  family  of  children,  and  of  parents  not 
abundant  in  "  goods/'  he  left  home  before  eleven  years  of 
age  to  win  his  own  support.  His  only  wealth,  was  a  mind 
richly  stored  with  the  Assembly's  Catechism,  Watts's  Cradle 
Hymns,  and  what  was  of  more  value,  followed  by  a  pious 
mother's  prayers.  Not  only  did  he  get  his  own  living,  but, 
while  a  mere  lad,  and  before  he  began  his  apprenticeship,  he 
remitted  «,  hundred  dollars  to  his  parents.  Soon  after  leav 
ing  his  trade,  —  a  carpenter,  —  he  fell  and  broke  his  arm. 
He  returned  home  in  discouragement,  with  his  arm  slung  to 
his  neck,  and  having  nothing  else  to  do,  he  attended  a  religious 
meeting.  A  revival  was  commencing,  and  one  of  its  early 
fruits,  was  the  disabled  carpenter.  By  advice  of  Rev.  Dr. 
Strong,  of  Randolph,  where  he  learned  his  trade,  he  was  ad 
vised  to  commence  a  course  of  study :  and  the  Dr.  offered  to 
teach  him  at  seventy-five  cents  per  week,  and  be  remunerated 
in  carpenter's  work  at  a  dollar  a  day.  The  plan  was  agreed 


180      BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

to,  with  pecuniary  prospects  on  the  part  of  the  student  suffi 
ciently  dark  to  appal  the  stoutest  heart.  It  took  three  days' 
work  weekly  to  pay  his  board  and  tuition,  and  the  rest  was 
given  to  study,  as  labor  engagements  permitted.  Yet  he 
kept  pace  with  a  class-mate,  who  studied  all  the  time,  and  at 
the  close,  was  admitted  to  college,  while  the  student  was 
rejected. 

Dr.  Strong  had  a  large  number  of  private  students,  and 
but  one  rule  of  tuition,  to  charge  each  for  the  whole  week, 
whether  present  or  absent.  Such  a  settlement  in  the  present 
case  was  very  onerous  upon  a  poor  youth  who  had  spent 
half  his  time  in  work,  to  pay  for  the  other  half.  The  Dr. 
wished  to  favor  his  poor  pupil,  but  then  the  rule,  it  could  not 
be  broken !  An  ingenious  solution  of  the  difficulty  was 
proposed  by  the  student,  in  the  present  case  :  viz.  to  settle 
both  bills  by  the  same  rule,  of  charging  for  the  whole  week, 
whether  he  had  studied  or  worked  but  a  part  of  it,  which 
with  tuition  at  seventy-five  cents  per  week,  and  work  at  a 
dollar  a  day,  would  evidently  make  a  sensible  difference  in 
the  settlement.  The  Dr.  laughed  heartily,  and  agreed  to 
settle  by  the  actual  quantity  received  and  rendered,  and 
offered  to  furnish  a  hundred  dollars  to  the  young  collegian,  if 
he  should  want  it.  In  two  short  months,  the  Dr.  was  in  his 
grave. 

Mr.  Pierce  graduated  at  Brown  University,  1818,  and 
A.  M.  He  was  ordained  over  the  church  in  Foxboro',  17 
November,  1824,  and  was  dismissed,  Oct.,  1839.  Installed 
in  Abington,  8  April,  1840,  and  dismissed  in  feeble  health 
1  May,  1850.  He  still  resides  in  Abington. 

Mr.  Pierce  married  Miss  Eleanor  Ware,  daughter  of 
Metcalf  and  Fanny  Everett  of  Foxboro',  and  has  several 
children. 

His  publications  are, 

1.  Funeral  Sermon  of  Dr.  Carpenter  of  Seekonk,  1825. 


R  EV  .    CHARLES    FITCH.  181 

2.  A  Century  Sermon  on  the  day  Widow  Hannah  Sumner 
of  Foxboro'  completed  her  hundredth  year,  1828. 

3.  Sermon  on  Slavery,  1835. 

4.  Sermon  before  the  Norfolk  Ed.  Society,  183G. 

5.  Sermon  on  the  Mutual  Duties  of  Parents  and  Children, 
1837. 

6.  Sermon  before  the  Palestine  Missionary  Society,  1842. 

7.  Sermon  at  Dedication  of  the  Meeting-house,.  E.  Bridge- 
water,  1845. 

46.    REV.    CHARLES    FITCH 

Was  born  in  Williamstown.  He  was  the  youngest  son  of 
Rev.  Ebenezer  Fitch,  D.  D.,  the  first  president  of  Williams 
College,  afterwards  pastor  of  the  church  in  West  Blooinfield, 
N.  Y.,  and  was  the  sixth  in  descent  from  Rev.  James  Fitch, 
(or  Fytche,)  from  Bocking,  Essex,  England,  and  of  Norwich, 
Ct.*  He  graduated  at  Williams  College  1818,  studied  the 
ology  at  Princeton,  N.  J.,  and  was  ordained  first  in  Cherry 
Valley,  N.  Y.,  and  then  in  Holliston,  4  Jan.,  1826.  He  was 
dismissed  1  May,  1832,  and  migrated  westwards.  In  1836, 
he  was  in  Buffalo.  In  1843,  he  was  in  Ohio,  where  he 
occupied  a  chaplaincy  in  some  of  the  State  institutions.  He 
is  believed  to  be  now  in  Indiana,  acting  as  an  agent  of  the 
American  Bible  Society.  Another  Rev.  Charles  Fitch, 
settled  once  over  a  free  church  in  Boston,  has  been  con 
founded  with  the  subject  of  the  present  sketch. 

*  Rev.  James  Fytche,  born  in  Bocking,  Essex,  England,  1622,  and  had 
by  two  wives  14  children.  The  eldest,  James,  Esq.,  and  maj.,of  Canter 
bury,  Ct.,  had  by  two  wives  13  children.  The  youngest  of  these  waa 
Jabez,  Col.,  had  8  children,  of  whom  was  Jabez,  jr.,  Doct.,  and  father 
of  Rev.  Ebenezer  Fitch,  D.  D.  He  married  Widow  Mary  Cogswell, 
formerly  Miss  Backus,  and  had  11  children,  of  whom  was  Rev.  Charles 
Fitch,  above.  See  Sketch  of  Dr.  Fitch,  Quar.  Register. 
16 


182      BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

Mr.  Fitch  married  Miss  Sarah  Hamilton,  and  has  three 
children. 

47.    REV.    CHARLES    JARVIS    WARREN 

Was  born  in  Boston,  3  Aug.,  1796.  His  father  and  grand 
father  were  natives  of  Waltham.  He  spent  his  early  life  in 
Sutton  ;  at  about  21  years  of  age,  removed  to  Taunton,  where, 
in  1820,  he  joine^d  the  church  under  Rev.  A.  Cobb,  with 
whom  he  commenced  his  classical  studies.  He  completed 
his  academic  course  at  Castleton  Academy,  Vt,  and  grad.  at 
Brown  University,  1826.  He  studied  theology  with  Rev. 
Alvan  Cobb,  of  Taunton,  and  was  ordained  pastor  of  the  first 
Congregational  church  in  Attleboro',  28  February,  1828. 
He  was  dismissed  8  July,  1730.  He  next  supplied  the 
newly-formed  Robinson  Church,  Plymouth,  until  his  settle 
ment  over  the  first  church  in  South  Weymouth,  1  Jan.,  1833. 
In  the  following  year,  Aug.  13,  he  was  dismissed,  and  opened 
a  classical  school  in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.  Installed  1  July,  1835, 
at  Weathersfkld,  as  colleague  with  Rev.  Caleb  J.  Tenney, 
D.  D.;  dismissed  1  February,  1837.  Next  settled  in  Can 
terbury,  Ct.,  13  September,  1837,  and  dismissed  1  April, 
1840,  to  become  agent  of  the  American  Temperance  Union, 
in  some  department  of  whose  operations  he  has  since  been 
employed.  Much  of  his  labor  has  been  given  to  the  enrol 
ment  and  instruction  of  children  and  youth  in  the  temperance 
cause.  He  is  now  Corresponding  Secretary  and  General 
Agent  of  the  New  York  City  Temperance  Alliance,  and 
resides  at  New  York. 

His  publications  have  been,  a  Dedicatory  Sermon  of  the 
Meeting-house  of  the  Robinson  Church,  Plymouth ;  a  Bible 
Manual  and  Temperance  Catechism,  for  Youth;  besides 
small  tractates  upon  Free  Masonry  and  Temperance  gen 
erally. 

Mr.  Warren  is  married,  and  has  several  children. 


REV.    PRESTON    CUM  MINGS.  183 


48.   REV.   PRESTON    CUMMINGS 

Was  born  in  Seekonk,  1  May,  1800,  the  son  of  David  and 
Hipsey  Cummings ;  but  spent  his  early  days  in  Attleboro', 
where  he  prepared  for  college,  under  the  tuition  of  Rev*.  N. 
Holman,  then  and  there  pastor,  and  where  he  also  made 
profession  of  religion  in  1816.  He  graduated  at  Brown 
University,  1822,  and  studied  theology  under  Rev.  C.  Park, 
D.  D.,  then  Professor  in  the  University.  Was  ordained  at 
Lebanon,  N.  Y.,  22  August,  1825  ;  and  dismissed  Feb.  1827, 
"  on  account  of  a  serious  injury,  then  supposed  to  be  fatal  to 
his  ability  to  be  useful."  Installed  at  Dighton  26  December, 
1827,  and  dismissed  5  Oct.,  1835.  Installed  at  Wrentham, 
North  Church,  6  July,  1836,  and  dismissed  1  Jan.,  1838. 
Installed  at  Buckland  1  Jan.,  1840,  and  dismissed  1  January 
1848,  on  account  of  a  return  of  the  malady  which  occasioned 
his  first  dismission.  Subsequently  he  has  preached  frequently, 
and  supplied  his  former  charge  in  Dighton  a  year  and  a  half; 
but  has  been  chiefly  occupied  in  compiling  a  "  Dictionary  of 
Congregational  Usages  and  Principles  ; "  containing  the  lan 
guage  of  the  various  writers  on  the  subjects  treated,  with 
copious  references  to  authorities.  Several  years  have  been 
spent  in  consulting  and  comparing  the  works  of  the  fathers 
of  Old  and  New  England,  and  the  result  is  an  invaluable 
key  to  the  various  opinions  of  prominent  writers  on  our 
church  polity. 

Mr.  Cummings  has  been  permitted  to  rejoice  in  several 
interesting  seasons  of  blessing  upon  his  labors.  One  very 
marked  revival  occurred  in  Buckland  in  1842. 

Mr.  Cummings  married  Miss  Alona  Davis,  of  Holden, 
sister  of  Rev.  Elnathan  Davis,  and  has  had  two  children, — 
one  of  whom  survives.  James  P.  Chaplin  graduated  in  the 
medical  class  at  Cambridge,  1850,  and  is  now  a  practising 


184      BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

physician  at  Leicester.    He  married  Miss  Harriet  V.  Mann, 
of  Holden. 
Mr.  Cummings's  present  residence  is  at  Leicester. 

49.    REV.    ELAM    SMALLEY,  D.  D. 

Is  a  native  of  Dartmouth  ;  graduated  at  Brown  University, 
1827,  and  A.  M. ;  and  also  S.  T.  D.,  1849.  He  studied 
theology  with  Rev.  Otis  Thompson,  of  Rehoboth.  He  was 
ordained  at  Franklin,  17  June,  1829,  and  was,  at  his  own 
request,  dismissed  5  July,  1838.  He  was  installed  over  the 
Union  Church,  Worcester,  19  Sept.,  1838,  where  he  still 
labors. 

Dr.  Smalley  married  Miss  Louisa  J.  Washburn,  daughter 
of  Gen.  Abiel  and  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Washburn,  of  Middleboro', 
and  has  two  children. 

Dr.  Smalley  has  published  a  Sermon  on  "  the  Piety  which 
the  present  Age  demands,"  Franklin,  1835 ;  A  Centennial 
Discourse,  Franklin,  1838  ;  A  Volume  upon  the  Sacrament, 
1841;  "The  Worcester  Pulpit,"  1851;  Pastors' Counsels ; 
and  Funeral  Sermon  of  Hon.  D.  D.  Foster,  1852  ;  besides 
some  articles  in  the  Quarterlies. 

50.    REV.    AMOS   AUGUSTUS    PHELPS 

Was  the  son  of  humble  but  pious  parents,  and  was  born  in 
Simsbury,  Ct.,  11  November,  1804.  His  mother's  name, 
previous  to  marriage,  was  Clarissa  Bodwell. 

He  early  exhibited  strong  traits  of  character;  and  his 
mother,  on  whom  entirely  devolved  the  care  of  rearing  him 
from  childhood,  furnished  him  with  the  best  facilities  for 
gaining  an  education  within  her  reach.  He  spent  his  early 
years  with  his  uncle,  Mr.  Augustus  Bodwell,  of  Farmington, 
Ct.  When  about  sixteen  years  of  age,  his  mother  was  mar- 


REV.    AMOS    AUGUSTUS    PHELPS.         185 

ried  to  Mr.  William  Tryon,  and  he  was  placed  in  a  store  in 
Farmington. 

While  thus  employed,  he  became,  in  1821,  a  subject  of 
Divine  grace,  and  immediately  turned  his  desires  and  plans 
toward  the  Gospel  ministry.  His  mother  had,  meanwhile, 
become  again  a  widow,  and  the  little  property  accumulated 
by  her  careful  toil  was  involved  in  the  insolvent  estate  of  her 
deceased  husband.  Her  only  possible  way  of  rescuing  any 
thing  was  by  assuming  all  the  debts,  which  the  heroic  woman 
actually  did,  and  eventually  paid  them. 

It  was  in  this  time  of  embarrassment  and  perplexity  that 
she  was  called  also  to  decide  upon  giving  her  son  a  liberal 
education.  She  resolved  it  should  be  done,  and  was  enabled 
to  accomplish  it.  Such  energy  was  worthy  of  such  a  son  as 
Mr.  Phelps. 

Mr.  Phelps  graduated  at  Yale  College  1826,  and  A.  M., 
and  studied  theology  at  New  Haven.  He  was  ordained  at 
Hopkinton,  14  Sept.,  1830,  as  colleague  pastor  with  Rev. 
Nathanael  Howe.  His  cordial  enlistment  in  the  cause  of 
Temperance  so  displeased  many  in  the  town,  as  to  lead  to 
his  dismission,  1  May,  1832. 

Mr.  Phelps  then  removed  to  Boston,  and  supplied  the 
pulpit  of  the  Old  South  Church,  and  afterwards  of  the  Pine 
Street  Church,  where  he  received  a  call  and  was  settled,  13 
Sept.,  1832.  Induced  chiefly  by  the  failing  health  of  his 
wife,  he  obtained  a  dismission,  26  March,  1834. 

It  was  during  his  settlement  at  Pine  street  that  he  became 
an  Abolitionist.  In  1833,  he  was  invited  to  deliver  a  Fourth 
of  July  Address  upon  the  subject  of  Slavery.  With  his 
natural  earnestness  and  thoroughness,  he  collected  and 
studied  all  the  documents  upon  the  subject,  and  upon  all 
sides  of  it,  to  which  he  could  gain  access.  The  result  of  his 
examination  was,  his  clear,  cordial,  and  life-long  conviction 
of  the  right  of  immediate  emancipation.  His  address  was 
written  accordingly.  He  subsequently  enlarged  it  to  four 

16* 


186  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

lectures,  which  were  published,  and  became  a  text-book  on 
the  subject. 

Immediately  after  his  dismission  from  the  Pine  St.  church, 
Mr.  Phelps  entered,  April  1,  upon  an  agency  for  the  Ameri 
can  Anti-Slavery  Society,  —  in  whose  organization  in  Phila 
delphia,  Dec.  30,  he  had  ^een  a  prominent  agent,  —  and 
visited  New  York,  Washington,  and,  during  the  summer,  the 
State  of  Maine.  On  the  arrival  of  George  Thompson  from 
England,  Sept.,  1834,  Mr.  Phelps  joined  him,  and  accompa 
nied  him  through  New  England  and  New  York.  April, 
1836,  he  accepted  the  Editorship  of  the  Emancipator,  and 
conducted  it  until  May  of  the  following  year  ;  when  he  re 
moved  to  Boston  and  became  General  Agent  of  the  Mass. 
Anti-Slavery  Society,  in  whose  service  he  continued  until 
the  division  in  1839.  In  1838,  he  declined  an  invitation  to 
the  pastoral  office  of  the  Third  Presb.  church  in  New  York, 
on  account  of  his  Congregational  attachments.  But  he  ac 
cepted  a  call  from  the  Marlboro'  Chapel  Free  church,  and 
was  installed  24  July,  1839.  In  1841,  March  1,  he  entered 
upon  the  Agency  for  City  Missions  ;  and  the  year  following, 
March  2,  he  was  settled  over  the  Maverick  church,  East  Bos 
ton,  still  holding  a  nominal  connection  with  his  missionary 
agency. 

His  health,  never  robust,  was  at  this  time  enfeebled  by 
his  multiplied  labors ;  and,  as  a  respite,  he  sailed  for  Eng 
land,  1  June,  1843,  to  attend  the  Anti-Slavery  Convention 
to  be  holden  at  London,  June  12,  to  which  he  had  been  elected 
delegate  by  the  Mass.  Abolition  Society.  He  was  a  promi 
nent  and  active  member  of  that  Convention. 

The  prevalent  east  winds  at  Boston  induced  him  to  resign 
his  pastorate  at  East  Boston,  and  accept  the  office  of  Corre 
sponding  Secretary  of  the  Am.  and  Foreign  Anti-Slavery 
Society,  at  New  York,  whither  he  removed  in  April,  1845. 
But  the  symptoms  of  Consumption  so  increased  upon  him, " 
that  he  was  advised  to  seek  a  milder  clime.  He  sailed  for 


REV.     AMOS   AUGUSTUS    P  HELPS.        187 

Hayti,  20  Oct.,  1846,  and  reembarked  for  Jamaica  in  De 
cember,  where  he  spent  the  winter,  but  without  any  marked 
benefit. 

In  April,  1847,  he  left  for  the  United  States,  reached 
New  Orleans  on  the  18th,  and  proceeded  up.  the  river  to 
Cincinnati,  and  thence  to  New  York.  After  a  brief  rest,  he 
continued  on  to  Castine,  Me.,  where  his  family  had  remained. 
But  the  season  was  most  unfavorable  to  him,  and  he  jour- 
nied,  once  more,  to  Roxbury,  to  the  house  of  his  brother- 
in-law,  Rev.  E.  D.  Moore.  In  the  quiet  of  his  family,  he 
arranged  the  valuable  information  which  he  had  collected 
respecting  slavery  in  the  West  Indies,  prepared  his  Letters 
to  Drs.  Stowe  and  Bacon  for  the  press,  and  set  his  house  in 
order  to  die.  The  anticipated  event  came  suddenly  at  last. 
He  died  at  little  past  midnight,  on  the  morning  of  the  30th 
of  July,  1847,  aged  43  years ;  and,  Aug.  2d,  his  remains 
were  committed  to  rest  in  Mount  Auburn. 

Mr.  Phelps  married,  Nov.,  1830,  Charlotte  Brown,  daugh 
ter  of  William  and  Margaret  (Shepherd)  Brown,  of  Wrent- 
ham.  Her  father  died  in  her  childhood,  and  her  mother  had 
become  the  second  wife  of  Rev.  Elisha  Fisk,  of  Wrentham. 
Mrs.  Phelps  was  born  1  Sept.,  1803,  and  died  31  Aug.,  1838, 
and  was  buried  in  Wrentham.  She  was  an  amiable,  devoted, 
and  exemplary  Christian,  and  exhibited  the  beauty  of  the 
Gospel  in  her  long  and  painful  sickness,  consumption.  She 
left  one  child. 

Mr.  Phelps  married,  3  Oct.,  1839,  Caroline  G.  Little, 
daughter  of  Mr.  Doty  Little  of  Castine,  Me.  She  died  in  a 
short  time,  leaving  one  of  two  children  to  survive  her.  Mr. 
Phelps  married  her  sister,  Lucy  T.  Little,  9  Oct.,  1844,  by 
whom  he  had  two  children.  She  is  still  living  in  Ellsworth, 
Me.  Of  Mr.  Phelps's  children  : 

1.  Edward  Augustus,  b.  21  June,   1832,  lives  in   East 
Abington. 

2.  Lucy  Little,  b.  11  Jan.,  1841;    4.  Caroline  Little,  b.  18 


188     BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

Nov.,  1845  ;  and  5.  Clara  Bodwell,  b.  23  July,  1847 ;  are 
with  Mrs.  P.  in  Ellsworth. 

Mr.  Phelps's  writings  were  voluminous,  but  mostly  occa 
sional  pamphlets,  etc.,  connected  with  his  agencies.  He  pub 
lished,  however,  the  following  volumes  :  1.  Lectures  on  Sla 
very,  1834.  2.  Book  of  the  Sabbath,  1841.  3.  Letters  to 
Drs.  Bacon  and  Stowe,  1848.  He  also  left,  unfinished,  a 
volume  on  the  Bible  View  of  Slavery,  and  materials  collected 
for  many  other  works,  of  which  his  early  death  prevented  a 
completion. 

Here  is  not  space  to  give  more  than  the  most  sketchy 
outline  of  his  character  and  labors.  His  whole  life  showed 
him  to  be  indefatigable  in  perseverance,  cool  and  thorough 
in  his  examination  of  all  doctrines  and  duties,  and  explicit 
and  bold  in  making  his  conclusions  fully  known.  Whatever 
he  considered  to  be  wrong  in  principle  or  practice,  he  fear 
lessly  and  uncompromisingly  attacked  ;  and  strong  had  to  be 
the  entrenchments  which  could  stand  before  the  fire  of  his 
well-directed  assaults.  He  was  as  determined  an  enemy  to 
ultraism  as  he  was  to  timid  conservatism.  In  all  his  attacks 
upon  slavery,  he  used  none  but  what  he  believed  to  be  Chris 
tian  weapons,  and  sternly  rebuked  the  use  of  any  others  by 
his  casual  associates. 

As  a  preacher  and  pastor,  he  was  regarded  as  instructive 
and  faithful.  His  ministry,  both  in  Hopkinton  and  Boston, 
was  crowned  with  success.  In  the  former  place,  he  enjoyed 
an  extensive  revival,  in  which  some  150  were  hopefully  con 
verted.  His  labors  in  Pine  Street  church  were  attended 
with  a  similar,  though  less  extensive,  work  of  grace. 

As  a  public  lecturer  and  extempore  speaker,  he  was  re 
markable  for  his  systematic  clearness,  logical  accuracy,  and 
argumentative  cogency.  However  entangled  a  subject  might 
have  become  by  rambling  debate,  under  his  lucid  exposition 
the  crooked  became  straight,  light  broke  through  the  obscu 
rity,  and  the  point  at  issue  was  revealed  in  vivid  distinctness. 


RE  V.   HARRISON    GREENOUGH   PARK.      189 

As  an  advocate  of  emancipation,  he  stood  unrivalled 
amongst  his  coadjutors.  The  progress  of  the  cause  was 
greatly  indebted  to  his  enlightened  and  fervid  zeal.  He  was 
regarded  as  a  leader,  not  only  at  the  North  and  in  England, 
but  also  at  the  South.  The  high  value  which  was  put  upon 
his  labors  by  the  slaveholders,  is  indicated  by  the  offer,  in  the 
Milledgeville  (Ga.)  "Federal  Union,"  of  Feb.  1,  1836,  of 
$10,000  for  his  head! 

He  was  a  man  of  unblemished  morals.  He  was  a  warm 
friend,  cherishing  all  the  domestic  affections,  and  loved  the 
cause  of  the  slave,  not  merely  as  a  principle  of  duty,  but 
from  the  impulses  of  the  heart.  His  characteristic  calmness, 
collectedness,  and  freedom  from  excitement  marked  his  clos 
ing  hours.  "  All  is  right,  all  is  right,"  were  his  last  excla 
mations.* 

51.  REV.  HARRISON  GREENOUGH  PARK 

Is  the  eldest  son  of  Rev.  Calvin  Park,  D.  D.,  and  was 
born  in  Providence,  R.  L,  1806.  He  graduated  at  Brown 
University,  1824,  and  studied  theology  at  Princeton,  N.  J., 
and  with  Rev.  Dr.  Wisner,  of  Boston.  He  also  read  law 
three  years  with  Bradford  Sumner,  Esq.,  of  Boston,  and 
with  Hon.  J.  Fisk,  of  Wrentham.  He  was  ordained  pastor 
of  the  church  in  South  Dedham,  16  Dec.,  1829,  and  dismissed 
in  1835  ;  settled  a  short  time  over  the  second  church  in  Dan- 
vers,and  was  installed  over  the  church  in  Burlington  15  Nov., 
1849,  and  dismissed  in  1851.  In  the  interim  of  his  last 
two  settlements,  he  was  employed,  part  of  the  time,  as  trav 
elling  agent  for  the  Mother's  Magazine,  and  in  the  publica 
tion  and  editorship  of  the  Father's  and  Mother's  Manual. 

Mr.  Park  married  Miss  Julia  Bird,  daughter  of  Mr.  George 


*   Condensed  from  Boston    licporter,  Emancipator,  National  Era, 
and  Letters  of  Messrs.  L.  Tappan,  A.  Bodwell,  and  E.  A.  Phelps. 


190  BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES. 

Bird  of  Dedham.     Subsequently  to  her  death,  he  married  her 
sister,  Miss  Elizabeth  Bird.     He  has  several  children. 

Mr.  Park  published  a  Funeral  Sermon  of  Rev.  George 
Cowles,  and  his  wife  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Cowles,  who  were  lost 
in  the  steam  Packet,  Home,  9  Oct.,  1837.  Preachecl  at 
Danvers  12  Nov.,  1837. 

52.    REV.   ASAHEL    BIGELOW 

Was  born  in  Boylston  ;  the  son  of  Andrew  and  Sarah 
Bigelow,  and  brother  of  Rev.  Jonathan  Bigelow  of  Rochester, 
and  of  Rev.  Andrew  Bigelow  of  Needham,  and  descendant 
of  John  Bigelow,  Watertovvn,  1841.  He  graduated  at  Har 
vard  Univ.,  1823,  and  at  Andover,  1826 :  ordained  at  Walpole, 
12  March,  1828,  and  dismissed  1  Jan.,  1849.  Installed  in 
Hancock,  N.  H.,  15  May,  1850,  where  he  now  labors.  Has 
published :  1.  Sermon  before  Norfolk  Co.  Ed.  Soc'y,  1833  ; 
2.  Sermon  at  ordination  of  Mr.  Andrew  Bigelow,  So.  Dart 
mouth,  15  Aug.,  1841. 

Mr.  Bigelow  married  Miss  Dorcas  F.  Homes,  daughter  of 
the  late  Henry  Homes  of  Boston,  and  has  several  children. 

53.   REV.   DAVID    SA.NFORD 

Is  a  native  of  Medway.  His  father  was  Mr.  Philo  San- 
ford,  a  son  of  Rev.  David  Sanford,  pastor  of  the  church  in 
West  Medway. 

He  graduated  at  Brown  University,  1825,  and  A.  M.,  and 
studied  theology  with  Rev.  Dr.  Ide,  and  at  Andover  Semi 
nary.  He  preached  a  short  time  in  the  city  of  Lowell,  and 
in  Somersworth,  N.  H. ;  and  was  ordained  at  New  Market, 
N.  H.,  22  May,  1828.  He  was  dismissed  June,  1830,  to 
take  charge  of  a  new  church  in  Dorchester,  over  which  he 
was  installed  as  pastor,  14  July,  1830.  He  was  again  dis 
missed,  Sept.,  1838,  to  take  the  pastoral  charge  of  a  new 


REV.    TERTIUS    D.    SOUTH  WORTH.        191 

church  in  his  native  place,  Medway  Village.  He  was 
installed  there  3  Oct.,  1838,  and  continues  to  labor  'amongst 
his  own  people.' 

Mr.  Sanford  married  Miss  Sarah  P.  Daniels,  daughter  of 
Mr.  Obed  Daniels  of  Hopkinton,  and  has  several  children. 

Mr.  S.  has  published  a  sermon  before  the  Norfolk  Co. 
Education  Soc'y,  1840;  Sermon  to  Young  Men,  1848; 
Sermon  to  Young  Ladies,  1849  ;  Funeral  Sermon  of  Mrs. 
James  B.  Wilson,  1850. 

54.    REV.   TERTIUS    DUNNING   SOUTHWORTH 

Is  a  native  of  Rome,  N.  Y.,  and  son  of  Rev.  James  South- 
worth,  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  church  in  Bridgewater, 
N.  Y.*  His  mother's  name,  before  marriage,  was  Mary 
Dennison,  of  Saybrook,  Ct. 

He  studied  with  W.  R.  Weeks,  D.  D.,  of  Paris  Hill,  and 
also  at  the  academy  in  Whitesboro',  and  graduated  at  Hamil 
ton  College,  Clinton,  N.  Y.,  and  A.  M.  1825  (?)  ;  attended 
Theological  Seminary  at  Auburn  one  year,  and  at  Andover 
nearly  three  years,  and  graduated  at  Andover,  1829. 

He  was  ordained  in  Claremont,  N.  H.,  18  June,  1834,  and 
dismissed  July,  1838.  Installed  at  Franklin  23  Jan.,  1839, 
and  dismissed  25  April,  1850.  He  afterwards  supplied 
temporarily  at  Bridgewater,  N.  Y.,  at  Sasquoit,  in  the  ad 
joining  town,  at  Hebron,  Ct.,  and  Andover  Theological 
Seminary.  His  present  place  of  labor  is  Lyndon,  Vt. 

Mr.  Southworth  married  Miss  Martha  Warren,  daughter 
of  Luther  and  Martha  (Niles)  Warren.  She  is  a  native  of 

*  His  paternal  ancestry  is  directly  traceable  to  Sir  Richard  South- 
worth,  who  was  knighted  by  James  I.  of  England,  and  whose  widow 
Alice,  migrated  to  Plymouth,  and  became  the  wife  of  Gov.  William 
Bradford.  She  brought  two  sons  with  her,  Constant  and  Thomas 
Southworth,  prominent  personages  in  the  Plymouth  Colony,  from  the 
former  of  whom  Mr.  S.  (above)  is  descended. 


192  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

Haverhill,  N.  H.,  was  educated  at  Mr.  Brace's  Female 
Seminary,  Hartford,  and,  at  the  time  of  her  marriage,  resided 
at  Weathersfield,  Vt.  They  have  no  children. 

Mr.  Southworth's  publications  are:  1.  A  Sermon,  "Civil 
Government  ordained  of  God,"  1840.  2.  Funeral  Sermon 
of  Rev.  N.  Emmons,  D.  D.,  1840.  3.  Dedication  Sermon 
'at  Franklin,  1842.  4.  "  Memorial  of  Unassuming  Piety," 
1844.  5.  Sermon  before  Norfolk  Co.  Education  Society. 
6.  Man's  Hopes  destroyed.  Besides  pamphlets. 

55.   REV.   DANIEL   J.  POOR 

Was  born  in  Woburn,  and  was  the  son  of  Lemuel  and 
Elizabeth  (Richardson)  Poor. 

He  graduated  at  Amherst  College,  1837  ;  studied  theology 
with  Rev.  Dr.  Ide,  and  was  ordained  in  Foxboro',  11  March, 
1840.  He  was  dismissed,  at  his  own  request,  12  May,  1847. 
Since  this  date,  he  has  been  the  preceptor  of  an  academy  in 
Hopkinton,  where  he  now  resides. 

Mr.  Poor  married  Miss  Susan  Thompson,  daughter  of  Mr. 
Alpha  and  Mary  (Scottow)  Thompson,  and  has  several 
children. 

56.    REV.    MORTIMER   BLAKE, 

The  eldest  son  of  Ira  and  Laura  (Howry)  Blake,  was  born 
in  Pittston,  Me.,  but  early  removed  to  Franklin,  with  his 
parents.*  He  fitted  for  college,  partly  in  private,  and  partly 

'*  His  earliest  discovered  paternal  ancestor  was  Eobcrt  Blake  of 
Wrentham,  1676;  who  married  Sarah,  daughter  of  John  and  Sarah 
Guild,  of  W.,  and  had  10  children.  Three  of  them  were  the  first  settlers 
of  Keene.  N.  II. ;  namely,  Nathan,  who  built  the  first  house  in  Keene, 
Elijah,  and  Doct.  Obadiah,  the  first  physician  in  that  town.  —  Annals 
of  Keene.  Josiah,  son  of  Robert,  lived  in  Wrentham,  and  had  7 
children,  of  whom  was  Dea.  Philip,  father  of  Ira  Blake,  and  grandfather 
of  Rev.  Mortimer,  above. 


REV.    MOSES    GILL   GROSVENOR.          193 

at  the  Medway  Classical  Institute,  and  graduated  at  Amherst 
College,  1835.  He  next  taught  an  academy  three  years  at 
Franklin,  during  which  time  he  studied  theology  under  the 
direction  of  Rev.  E.  Smalley,  D.  D.,  then  pastor.  He  was 
employed  one  year  as  preceptor  of  Hopkins  Academy,  Had- 
ley.  He  then  resigned  school-teaching,  and  was  ordained  at 
Mansfield,  4  December,  1839,  where  he  still  continues. 

Mr.  Blake  married  Harriet  Louisa,  daughter  of  Mr.  Joseph 
and  Susa  (Fisher)  Daniels,  of  Franklin,  and  has  two  chil 
dren. 

His  publications  are :  1.  A  Funeral  Sermon,  1844.  2. 
A  Funeral  Sermon,  1845.  3.  Address  on  the  erection  of  a 
Monument  to  Rev.  Dr.  Emmons,  at  Franklin,  1846.  4.  Two 
Sermons,  on  the  Import  of  the  Church  Covenant,  and  on  the 
Duty  of  Mutual  Forbearance,  1846.  5.  Gethsemane  and 
Calvary,  12mo,  1844,  two  editions.  6.  Fast-day  Sermon  on 
the  "  Maine  Preventive,"  1852,  three  editions. 

57.   REV.   MOSES    GILL    GROSVENOR 

Is  the  youngest  son  and  child  of  Rev.  Daniel  and  Deborah 
(Hall)  Grosvenor,  and  was  born  in  Paxton,  23  Sept.,  1796, 
where  his  father  was  then  settled.* 

*  His  grand-parents  were  Ebenczer  and  Lucy  Grosvenor,  natives 
and  residents  of  Pomfret,  Ct.  They  had  ten  children.  Three  were 
Orthodox  ministers. 

Rev.  Daniel,  one  of  the  three,  and  father  of  Rev.  Moses  G.,  was  born 
in  Pomfret,  20  April,  1750;  Yale  College,  1769,  chum  of  Prest.  Dwight. 
Studied  theology  with  Rev.  Dr.  Hall  of  Sutton,  whose  daughter, 
Deborah,  afterwards  became  his  wife ;  and  was  ordained  at  Grafton, 
19  Oct.,  1774.  He  lost  his  voice,  and  was  dismissed,  in  1787.  He 
afterwards  settled  in  Paxton,  5  November,  1794;  resigned  17  Nov. 
1802,  and  died  in  Petersham,  22  July,  1834,  aged  84  years.  He  had 
ten  children,  of  whom  Rev.  Moses  G.  (above)  was  the  last. 

Ebenezer,  an  older  brother  of  Rev.  Daniel,  was  born  1739  ;  graduated 

17 


194     BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

He  fitted  for  college  at  Amherst ;  graduated  at  Dartmouth 
College,  1822,  and  at  Andover,  1825. 

He  was  ordained  at  West  Haverhill,  27  December,  1826, 
dismissed  in  1829,  and  installed  in  Ackworth,  N.  H.,  14  Oct., 
1829.  He  was  dismissed  25  April,  1832,  and  was  installed 
over  the  Orthodox  Church  in  Barre,  14  November  of  the 
same  year,  where  he  continued  until  May,  1834.  He  was 
next  settled,  30  May,  1835,  at  Marlboro',  N.  H.,  where  he 
staid  six  years.  He  afterwards  supplied  the  pulpit  at  Medfield 
a  year,  and  at  Marshall,  N.  Y.,  for  six  months,  at  each  of 
which  places  he  declined  a  settlement ;  also  at  Gardner, 
during  six  months  of  the  year  1837. 

His  present  abode  is  Petersham,  in  whose  vicinity  he 
occasionally  preaches,  as  a  diseased  throat  will  permit. 

Mr.  Grosvenor  married  Miss  Sophia  W.  Grout,  daughter 
of  John,  and  grand-daughter  of  Hon.  Jonathan  Grout,  of 
Petersham.  They  have  no  children. 

Mr.  Grosvenor  has  published  an  Address  on  Church  Music, 
delivered  at  West  Alstead,  N.  H. 


58.    REV.    THOMAS    T.   RICHMOND 

Is  a  native  of  Mettapoiset,  (Rochester,)  but  spent  his  early 
life  in  Taunton.  He  pursued  a  course  of  study  with  Rev. 
A.  Cobb,  of  West  Taunton,  but  did  not  graduate,  and  was 
approbated  by  Taunton  Association. 

He  was  ordained  at  Dartmouth,  17  July,  1832.  During 
his  ministry,  religion  was  revived,  and  the  church  built  up 
and  strengthened ;  but  he  was  compelled  to  leave,  in  poor 


Yale  College,  1759;  ordained  at  Scituate,  April,  1763,  and  dismissed 
April,  1780;  afterwards  settled  in  Harvard,  1782,  Avhere  he  died,  28 
May,  1788.  He  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Rev.  Mr.  Clarke,  of 
Danvers,  and  had  six  children. 


REV      TIMOTHY    D  .    P.    STONE.  195 

health,  23  April,  1837.  He  next  spent  four  years  in  New 
market,  N.  II.,  where  he  declined  a  call  to  settle,  on  account 
of  his  health.  He  was  afterwards  so  far  restored  as  to  con 
sent  to  a  settlement  in  Medfield,  where  he  was  installed  26 
November,  1842,  and  where  he  still  continues. 

Mr.  Richmond  married  Miss  Relief  II.  Smith,  daughter  of 
Mr.  Jesse  Smith,  of  Taunton. 

He  published  a  Sermon  before  the  Norfolk  Co.  Education 
Society,  1849. 


59.    REV.    TIMOTHY   D.    T.    STONE 

Graduated  at  Amherst  College,  1834,  and  A.  M.,  and 
studied  theology  at  Andover.  He  afterwards  was  Teacher 
of  Elocution  in  the  Teachers'  Semfnary,  in  the  same  town. 
He  was  ordained  pastor  of  the  church  in  Holliston,  1  March, 
1843,  and  dismissed  2  March,  1849,  to  take  the  chaplaincy 
of  the  State  Reform  School,  at  Westboro'.  He  is  now  Prin 
cipal  of  the  State  Normal  School  of  Connecticut,  located  at 
New  Britain. 

Mr.  Stone  is  the  author  of  several  small  volumes  for  the 
young. 

60.    REV.    DAVID    R.    BARNES 

Was  employed  as  stated  supply  by  the  church  in  North 
Wrentham,  during  which  time  he  became  of  member  of 
Mendon  Association.  On  the  expiration  of  his  engagement 
to  that  church,  he  returned  to  the  State  of  New  York, 
from  which  he  came.  No  farther  sketch  of  him  has  been 
obtained.  He  is  supposed  to  be  a  native  of  Rome,  N.  Y.,  or 
its  vicinity. 


196  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


61.  REV.    SEWALL    HARDING 

Is  a  native  of  Medway,  the  son  of  Capt.  John  Harding  and 
his  wife  Beulah,  daughter  of  Judge  Stephen  Metcalf  of 
Bellingham.  He  is  a  descendant  of  John  Harding  of  Med- 
field,  freeman  1640. 

He  graduated  at  Union  College,  Schenectady,  N.  Y.,  1818 ; 
studied  theology  with  Rev.  Drs.  Emmons  and  Ide,  and  was 
ordained  over  the  second  Congregational  Church  in  Wal- 
tham,  17  Jan.,  1821.  He  was  dismissed  November,  1837,  to 
take  the  pastoral  care  of  the  church  in  East  Medway,  where 
he  was  installed  1  Nov.,  1837.  He  was  dismissed  thence,  3 
Dec.,  1851,  to  become  the  Secretary  of  the  American  Doc 
trinal  Tract  and  Book  Society.  He  resides  in  Auburndale, 
Newton. 

Mr.  Harding  married  Miss  Eliza  Wheeler,  daughter  of 
Capt.  Lewis  and  Betsey  Wheeler,  of  Medway,  and  has  four 
children. 

His  oldest  son  is  Rev.  John  W.  Harding.  [See  Licentiates, 
No.  118.] 

His  oldest  daughter,  Eliza,  was  married,  13  Oct.  1852,  to 
Rev.  Augustus  Walker,  of  Medway,  who  sailed  as  Foreign 
Missionary  to  Syria,  January,  1853. 

Mr.  Harding  has  published  a  Sermon  before  the  Norfolk 
Co.  Education  Society,  1841 ;  besides  various  documents 
connected  with  his  present  duties. 

62.  REV.    ANDREW    H.    REED 

Was  born  in  Oakham,  and  is  the  son  of  Mr.  Silas  Reed, 
a  native  of  Rutland.  His  mother's  name  was  Elinor  Hunter, 
of  New  Braintree. 

He  graduated  at  Amherst  College,  1826,  and  at  Andover, 
1829.  He  was  first  settled  at  Raymond,  N.  H.,  1834,  and 


REV.    HORACE   JAMES.  197 

dismissed  in  1837.  He  was  installed  the  same  year  at 
Mason,  N.  II. ;  dismissed  in  1841.  He  was  invited  to  settle 
the  same  year  in  Mendon,  but  declined,  and  preached  as 
stated  supply  until  1848.  He  still  resides  in  Mendon,  and 
preaches  occasionally  in  the  vicinity. 

Mr.  Reed  married  Miss  Sarah  Lawrence,  daughter  of  Mr. 
John  and  Abigail  (Reed)  Lawrence,  of  Concord.  He  has 
two  children  living.  Has  published  several  articles  upon 
electricity  and  cognate  subjects. 

63.   REV.    HORACE   JAMES 

Is  the  son  of  Dea.  Galen  James,*  of  Medford,  of  which 
town  he  is  a  native.  He  graduated  at  Yale  College,  1840, 
studied  theology  at  New  Haven  and  Andover,  and  graduated 
at  the  latter  Seminary,  1843.  He  settled  in  Wrentham,  as 
colleague  with  Rev.  E.  Fisk,  1  Nov.,  1843,  and  is  now  sole 
pastor  of  that  church. 

Mr.  James  married  Miss  Helen  Leavitt,  daughter  of  Gen. 
David  and  Corinna  (Aldrich)  Leavitt,  and  grand-daughter 
of  Rev.  Jonathan  Leavitt,  of  Walpole,  N.  H.f 

Mr.  James  has  published,  A  Thanksgiving  Sermon,  1846  ; 
Wrentham  Jubilee,  1850  ;  and  several  Reports  and  Lectures 
on  Education. 


*  John  James,  his  paternal  ancestor,  freeman,  Scituate,  1668,  died 
l»y  a-  wound  from  the  Indians,  leaving  one  son,  John,  who  was  Deacon, 
as  was  also  his  son  John,  and  grandson  John.  The  fifth  generation  was 
also  John,  Major,  who  removed  from  Scituate  to  Medford,  and  was  the 
father  of  Capt.  Galen  James,  above.  See  Dcanes  Scituate,  p.  293. 

t  llev.  J.  Leavitt  was  born  in  Sufficld,  Ct.,  22  Jan.,  1731 ;  Yale  Coll., 
J758  ;  ordained,  Walpole,  N.  H.,  27  May,  1761  ;  dismissed,  May,  1765. 
Installed  at  Charlemont,  Oct.  1768,  and  d.  at  Heath,  set  off  from 
Charlcmont,  9  Sept.,  1802.  He  married  Sarah  Hooker,  of  Farrington, 
and  had  eleven  sons  and  one  daughter. 

17* 


198  BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES. 


64.    REV.    TYLER    THACHER 

Was  born  at  Princeton,  11  September,  1801,  and  is  the 
son  of  Obadiah  and  Elizabeth  (Richardson)  Thacher, 'and 
brother  of  Rev.  Moses  Thacher,  (Member  of  Association, 
No.  43).*  He  pursued  his  preparatory  studies  in  part  at  Har- 
ford,  Pa.,  graduated  at  Brown  University,  1824,  and  studied 
theology  with  Rev.  O.  Thompson,  of  Rehoboth.  He  was 
ordained  by  Mendon  Association  as  Evangelist,  at  North 
Wrentham,  4  December,  1827. 

After  preaching  some  years  under  appointment  of  the 
Home  Missionary  Society,  he  was  installed  at  East  Hawley, 
14  May,  1834,  and  dismissed  31  Jan.,  1843.  He  was  after 
wards  employed  as  stated  supply  at  North  Wrentham,  until 
he  departed,  in  1851,  for  California,  with  his  family.  He 
is  now  employed  at  Majrsyille  in  that  State,  teaching  school, 
and  preaching  in  the  mining  districts  upon  the  Sabbath. 

Mr.  Thacher  married,  first,  Miss  Fidelia  Thompson, 
daughter  of  Rev.  Otis  Thompson,  of  Rehoboth,  by  whom  he 
had  three  children,  two  of  whom  (sons)  survive.  The  eldest, 
a  promising  youth,  was  drowned.  On  the  death  of  his  wife, 
he  married  Miss  Nancy  Newton,  of  Hawley. 

Mr.  Thacher  has  published  several  volumes,  besides 
numerous  theological  essays  in  periodicals.  His  chief  works 
are :  Taylorism  Examined,  1834 ;  Arminianism  Examined, 
1833.  They  indicate  an  uncommonly  acute  and  discriminat 
ing  thinker. 

A  California  paper,  announcing  his  arrival  in  that  region, 
says,  and  justly :  "  His  thorough  scholarship  and  unfeigned 
piety  will  render  him  a  valuable  acquisition  to  the  New 
State." 


*  See  his  ancestry  in  a  note,  under  llev.  Moses  Thacher.  Members, 
etc.,  No.  43. 


REV.    SMITH   B.    GOODENOW.  199 


65.   REV.    SMITH    B.    GOODENOW 

Was  born  in  Damariscotta,  Lincoln  Co.,  Me.  At  four 
years  of  age  he  was  left  fatherless,  and  was  taken  by  his 
friends  to  Providence,  R.  I.,  where  he  commenced  learning 
the  watch-maker's  trade.  In  his  fifteenth  year  he  was  hope 
fully  converted,  and  joined  the  Beneficent  Congregational 
Church,  May,  1832,  by  the  ladies  of  which  church  he  was 
sent  to  Waterville  Academy.  He  entered  the  College  in 
1834,  but  removed  to  Bowdoin  College,  and  graduated,  1838. 
He  was  Principal  of  the  Academic  High  School  at  Bath 
three  years. 

He  was  approbated  to  preach  the  Gospel,  1843,  by  the 
Lincoln  Association,  and  engaged  as  missionary  at  Westerly, 
R.  I.,  1  April,  1843.  He  was  ordained  as  Evangelist,  at 
Providence,  17  Aug.,  1843  ;  and  installed  pastor  of  the  church 
in  Milford,  20  Oct.,  1844,  whence  he  was  dismissed  1  Jan., 
1846.  After  preaching  a  while  in  Warwick,  R.  I.,  he  was 
settled  at  Edgartown,  Martha's  Vineyard,  30  June,  1847. 
He  left  in  January,  1851,  on  invitation  of  the  Presb.  Board 
of  City  Missions  in  Newark,  N.  J.,  and  commenced  labor  as 
preacher  as  large,  Feb.  8,  in  that  city,  where  he  still  is.  He 
was  subsequently  dismissed  from  the  pastoral  office  in  Edgar- 
town,  Oct.,  1851. 

Mr.  Goodenow  has  published  a  *'New  England  Gram 
mar,"  three  editions.  "  Book  of  Elements,"  1850.  Pre 
mium  Tract  on  the  Sabbath,  published  by  the  Philadelphia 
Sab.  Association.  The  wife  of  Mr.  Goodenow  died  in  the 
summer  of  1852. 

66.    REV.    CHARLES    SIMMONS 

Is  a  native  of  Paris  Hill,  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  the  son 
of  Aaron  Simmons,  Jr.,  whose  father  belonged  to  Little 


200     BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

Compton,  R.  I.*  His  mother  was  Lydia  Wilbor,  daughter  of 
Charles  Wilbor,  of  Little  Compton,  and  sister  of  the  late 
Gov.  Wilbor,  of  the  same  place. 

He  spent  his  early  life  in  the  family  of  Rev.  W.  R.  Wrecks, 
D.  D.,  of  Paris  Hill,  N.  Y.,  and  in  travelling  as  general  agent 
for  the  Utica  Christian  Repository,  which  Dr.  Weeks  then 
conducted,  and  for  similar  publications.  He  also  served  an 
apprenticeship  as  blacksmith,  and  carried  on  the  business  as 
partner  a  year,  during  which  time,  he  engaged  to  go,  in  this 
capacity,  under  the  patronage  of  the  Am.  Board,  to  one  of  the 
Indian  tribes  near  Green  Bay.  But  they  abandoned  the  en- 
terprize,  and  he  was  released.  He  then  engaged  in  study,  for 
college,  with  Dr.  Weeks  ;  but  on  his  advice,  he  relinquished 
the  idea  of  graduating,  studied  theology,  and  was  approbated 
by  the  Oneida  Association,  24  May,  1832. 

Mr.  Simmons  commenced  preaching  in  Hebronville,  South 
Attleboro',  in  July,  and  was  ordained  there,  26  Dec.,  1832, 
and  dismissed  21  Oct.,  1838.  He  spent  the  winter  following 
in  Middleboro',  assisting  Rev.  Mr.  Putnam,  in  that  extensive 
town.  He  was  stated  supply  at  North  Scituate,  1839,  and 
also  at  Wareham  the  year  and  a  half  following.  Since  this 
latter  date,  he  has  resided  in  North  Wrentham,  preaching 
occasionally,  but  employed  chiefly  in  the  distribution  of  Dr. 
Emmons's  Works,  and  upon  his  own  publications. 

Mr.  Simmons  married  Miss  Eliza  Perrigo,  daughter  of 
Mr.  John  Perrigo,  of  North  Wrentham,  and  has  two  chil 
dren. 

Publications.  Besides  many  articles  in  the  Utica  Reposi 
tory,  Hopkinsian  Magazine,  N.  E.  Telegraph,  etc.,  he  has 
issued,  1.  Tract  on  U.  S.  Slavery,  24  pp.  1841.  2.  Scrip 
ture  Manual,  1st  edition,  at  Wareham,  1841;  2d,  in  1844. 

*  The  first  Simmons  of  his  family,  Moses,  settled  at  Duxbury,  of 
whose  sons,  one  went  to  Vt.,  another  to  R.  I.  Aaron  migrated  to  Paris 
Hill,  when  a  wilderness,  about  1790.  He  was  grandfather  to  Rev.  C. 
Simmons,  above. 


REV.    CALVIN    WHITE.  2  01 

Stereotyped,  1845.  Over  40,000  copies  of  this  valuable  work 
have  been  sold  in  this  country,  and  it  has  been  translated  in 
to  other  languages  at  some  of  the  Mission  Stations.  3.  A 
tract  on  Human  Ability  and  Dependence,  1850.  4.  A 
Manual  of  Maxims,  1852. 

67.    REV.    CALVIN    WHITE 

Is  the  son  of  Israel  and  Margaret  (Tubbs)  White,  of 
Raynham,  in  which  town  he  was  born  12  Sept.,  1799.*  In 
1819,  while  living  in  Dorchester,  he  became  a  subject  of  re 
newing  grace,  and  united  with  the  church  under  Rev.  Dr. 
Codman.  He  commenced  study  for  college,  and,  after  two 
years,  entered  Bangor  Seminary,  whence  he  graduated,  1827. 

He  preached  as  missionary  about  two  years,  and  was 
agent  of  Lincoln  Co.  Bible  Society,  three  months  of  the  time. 
He  was  ordained,  28  Oct.,  1829,  in  Robbinston,  Me.  The 
church  consisted  of  7  females  and  one  male,  and  he  was  a 
rum-seller  !  Mr.  White's  labors  were  blessed  with  a  revival, 
and  the  addition  of  21  members  to  the  church,  out  of  a  con 
gregation  of  less  than  100.  The  church  was  too  feeble  to 
support  him,  and  he  was  dismissed  19  July,  1831.  He  left  a 
total-abstinence  temperance  society  in  the  town,  of  over  100 
members.  He  next  preached  several  months  in  East  Ma- 
chias,  and  was  installed  in  Gray,  Me.,  7  Aug.,  1833.  He 
received  a  dismission  in  June,  1837,  and  removed,  with  his 


*  His  ancestry  is  traceable  to  John  White,  of  Raynham,  m.  Hannah 
Smith,  24  Feb.,  1679.  Had  10  ch.  II  John,  Jr.,  eldest  sou,  born  16 
Aug.,  1681,  had  5  ch.  certainly,  of  whom  was  George.  III.  George 
m.  Hannah  Briant,  4  June,  1745,  and  had  9  ch.  Israel  was  the  7th. 
IV.  Israel,  b.  20  Aug.,  1757,  m.  Margaret  Tubbs,  12  Sept.,  1782,  had 
12  ch.,  of  whom  Calvin,  above,  was  the  9th.  His  Avife,  Margaret  Tubbs. 
was  born  in  Berkley,  1762.  Her  father  was  Maj.  Samuel  Tubbs.  of  the 
Revolution,  and  Deacon  of  the  church  in  Berkley,  and  afterwards  in 
Dresden,  Me.,  where  he  died. — Rev.  C.  White,  Gardiner,  Me. 


202  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

family,  to  Amherst  in  this  state.  From  April,  1839  to  Jan., 
1841,  he  resided  in  Loudon  Village,  N.  H.,  where  he  de 
clined  a  settlement.  A  year  was  next  spent  in  Province- 
town,  Cape  Cod.  In  April,  1844,  he  commenced  preaching 
in  Dover,  where  he  remained  three  years.  In  1849,  he  re 
moved  to  Gardiner,  Me.,  where  he  now  resides,  and  in  whose 
vicinity  he  has  l  abundant  opportunities  of  preaching  the 
Gospel  to  the  poor,  without  money  and  without  price.' 

Mr.  White  married,  first,  Mary  N.  Dickinson,  daughter  of 
John  and  Rebecca  Dickinson.  Her  father  was  a  native  of 
Amherst,  but  spent  25  years  in  East  Machias,  Me.,  as  a  law 
yer  and  Judge  of  Probate,  and  where  Mr.  W.  married  her, 
2  Feb.,  1830.  She  died  at  her  father's,  in  Amherst,  2d 
May,  1841.  His  second,  and  present  wife  was  Ellen  Maria, 
daughter  of  Ebenezer  Nickerson,  of  Boston,  whom  he  mar 
ried  8  Jan.,  1845.  Mr.  White  had,  by  his  first  wife,  5  chil 
dren,  and  4  by  his  present  wife,  two  of  whom  are  dead. 

Mr.  White  has  issued  no  publications. 

G8.    REV.    ORAMEL    W.    COOLEY 

Was  born  in  Hawley,  and  is  the  son  of  Calvin  and  Rosa 
mond  (Field)  Cooley. 

He  studied  Theology  at  the  Seminary  in  Bangor,  and 
was  ordained  at  Dover,  4  May,  1848.  He  was  dismissed  in 
1850,  and  migrated,  with  his  family,  to  Illinois,  in  which 
state  he  is  now  laboring,  in  Grandville  or  vicinity. 

Mr.  Cooley  married  Miss  Sarah  Adams,  of  Hopkinton. 

G9.    KEY.    HENRY   L.    BULLEX 

Is  a  native  of  Medway.  His  parents'  names  are  Lewis 
and  Esther  (Grout)  Bullen.*  He  commenced  his  classical 

*  His  grandfather  was  Jcduthun,  son  of  John  Bullen,  a  descendant 
of  Samuel,  of  Dedhara,  freeman,  1641. 


REV.     WILLIAM     BARNES.  203 

studies  at  Franklin  Academy,  and  entered  Western  Reserve 
college,  but  graduated  at  Dartmouth  Coll.,  1842.  He  after 
wards  taught  school  three  years  in  Savannah,  Ga.,  where 
he  was  approbated  to  preach,  by  the  Hopewell  Presbytery, 
at  Madison,  Ga.  He  returned  to  Mass.,  and  taught  school 
in  Sherborn  and  Holliston ;  from  which  town  he  removed 
to  the  West, 

He  was  ordained  as  Home  Missionary,  7  May,  1850,  and 
labored  at  Port  Byron,  111.,  and  in  Lee  and  Clair  coun 
ties,  Iowa. 

He  is  now  acting  as  professor  of  Mathematics  and  Natu 
ral  Philosophy,  in  Iowa  College,  at  Davenport,  Iowa. 

70.   REV.    WILLIAM   BARNES 

Was  born  at  Portsmouth,  Ohio,  and  is  the  youngest  son 
of  Thomas  and  Sarah  (Evans)  Barnes,  who  migrated  from 
Sussex  Co.,  Del.,  in  1809.  He  was  baptized,  in  infancy,  by 
a  Methodist  minister,  in  a  log  cabin,  upon  the  banks  of  the 
Ohio.  To  this  denomination,  of  Methodists,  all  his  family 
belong,  and  in  their  faith  he  was  educated.  From  1823  to 
1833,  he  resided  with  his  parents  in  Marion  Co.,  O.,  and  at 
tended,  meanwhile,  at  Worthington  Academy  six  months, 
and  taught  school  six  months.  While  studying  for  the  legal 
profession,  at  the  Huron  Institute,  in  Milan,  in  1833,  he  be 
came  converted,  and  joined  the  Presb.  church  in  that  town. 
He  graduated  at  Yale  Col.,  1839,  and  taught  an  Academy 
at  Southold,  L.  I.,  the  following  year.  He  graduated  at  East 
Windsor,  and  was  approbated  by  the  New  London  Associa 
tion,  1  Sept.,  1841.  Ordained  at  Hampton,  Ct.,  21  Sept.,1842, 
dismissed  in  1847,  and  installed  at  Foxboro',  15  Dec.,  1847. 
He  has  recently  asked  a  dismission  from  his  charge  on  ac 
count  of  ill  health,  and  has  returned  to  his  former  residence. 
Mr.  Barnes  married,  18  Aug.,  1842,  Miss  Eunice  Alvard 


204  BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES. 

Taylor,  daughter  of  Nathaniel  and  Betsey  Taylor,  of  Man 
chester,  Ct.,  and  has  three  children. 

71.  KEY.  JOSHUA  THOMAS  TUCKER 

Is  the  son  of  Joshua  Tucker,  and  is  a  native  of  Milton.* 

He  prepared  for  college  at  Phillips  Academy,  Andover, 
and  graduated  at  Yale,  1833,  pursued  his  theological  studies 
at  Lane  Seminary,  Cincinnati,  0.,  and  was  approbated  to 
preach  the  Gospel,  April,  1837,  by  the  Presbytery  of  St. 
Louis,  Mo. 

He  was  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  Alton,  111.,  Oct., 
1837,  and  preached  as  a  missionary  until  1840  at  Chester 
and  Rushville,  111.  From  1840  to  1846,  he  had  the  pastoral 
charge  of  the  Pres.  church,  in  Hannibal,  Missouri ;  From 
1846  to  1848,  he  was  minister  of  the  North  Pres.  Church, 
St.  Louis,  Mo.,  and  joint  editor  of  the  "  St.  Louis  Herald  of 
Religious  Liberty,"  a  weekly  paper.  At  this  last  date  he 
was  compelled,  on  account  of  broken  health,  both  of  himself 
and  his  family,  to  leave  the  western  missionary  service  and 
return  to  the  region  of  his  nativity. 

Mr.  Tucker  commenced  ministering  to  the  church  in  Hol- 
liston,  1  April,  184$,  and  was  installed  in  the  pastoral  office, 
6  June,  following.  He  is  still  in  Holliston. 

Mr.  Tucker  married,  first,  Mary  Oland  Stibbs,  daughter 
of  Christopher  and  Elizabeth  Stibbs,  of  London,  Eng. ;  she 
died  in  1844. 

His  present  wife  was  Miss  Anne  D.  Shackford,  daughter  of 

*  His  immigrant  ancestor  was  Robert,  of  Weymoutli,  1639  ;  who  had 
two  sons,  Ephraim,  and  Manasseh,  and  probablya  third,  Robert,  Rep. 
for  Milton.  1680.  Manasseh,  was  Deacon  of  1st  church  in  Milton,  and 
had  four  sons  :  one  of  whom  was  Samuel.  He  had  two  sons,  Samuel 
and  Nathaniel.  (Nathaniel  grad.  H.  U.,  1744,  and  Rev.,  settled  in  N. 
Y.  State.)  Samuel  had  a  son  Samuel,  whose  son  Joshua  was  father  of 
Rev.  Joshua  Thomas  Tucker  above. 


REV.    PRESTON   POND.  205 

John  and  Jane  Shackford,  of  Portsmouth,  N.  H.     Of  his  five 
children,  two  only  survive. 
Mr.  Tucker  has  published  : 

1.  Dying  Scenes  —  A  Memorial  of  Mrs.  Mary  O.  Tucker, 
1844. 

2.  Thanksgiving  Discourse,  Hannibal,  Missouri,  1845. 

3.  Discourse,  Historical,  of  first  Pres.  Church,  Hannibal, 
Missouri,  1845. 

4.  God's  Ministry  of  Judgment  —  Sermon  on  the  Day  of 
National  Fast,  Holliston,  Mass.,  1849. 

5.  Life's  Lessons  of  Wisdom  —  a  Funeral  Sermon  on  Mr. 
Harding  Daniels,  Holliston,  Mass.,  1849. 

6.  The  Citizen  and  the  Commonwealth  —  Sermon  on  State 
Fast  Day,  Holliston,  Mass.,  1851. 

7.  The  Maine  Temperance  Law  — a  Thanksgiving  Sermon, 
Holliston,  1851. 


72.   REV.    PRESTON   POND 

Was  born  in  Wrentham,  and  is  the  son  of  Gen.  Preston 
and  Abial  (Blake)  Pond.* 

He  commenced  his  course  of  liberal  studies  at  Bangor, 
Me.,  graduated  at  Bowdoin  Coll.,  1840,  and  at  the  Bangor 
Theol.  Seminary,  1843. 

He  was  ordained  at  Eastport,  8  Oct.,  1843,  and  dismissed 
April,  1845.  He  next  labored  a  year  in  South  Newmarket, 
N.  H.,  and  commenced  preaching  as  stated  supply  at  Milford 
in  Sept.,  1846.  He  was  installed  as  pastor  24  May,  1849, 
and  dismissed  16  Feb.,  1852,  to  take  the  pastoral  charge  of 
the  Edwards  Church,  Boston ;  over  which  he  was  installed, 
25  Feb. 

*  Gen.  P.  Pond  is  brother  of  Rev.  E.  Pond,  D.  D.  (Lie.  No.  58.) 
For  the  ancestry  of  the  Pond  Family,  see  Enoch  Pond,  Lie.  No  17. 

18 


206      BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

Mr.  Pond  married  Miss  Elizabeth  S.,  daughter  of  Deacon 
John  and  Sarah  Thompson,  of  Durham,  N.  H. 


73.   REV.    GEORGE   H.    NEWHALL 

Is  the  son  of  George  and  Mary  (Woods)  Newhall,  and 
was  born  in  Athol.  He  graduated  at  Amherst  College,  1845, 
and  at  Andover  Theological  Seminary,  1848. 

He  was  ordained  over  the  church  in  Walpole,  18  Sept., 
1850. 

Mr.  Newhall  married  Miss  Harriet  F.  Lindsey,  daughter 
of  Stacey  Lindsey,  Esq.,  of  Prescott. 


74.  REV.    CHARLES    CHAMBERLAIN 

Is  a  native  of  Holliston,  and  the  son  of  Enoch  jr.  and  Lucy 
(Holbrook)  Chamberlain.  He  prepared  for  College  at 
Leicester  Academy,  graduated  at  Brown  Univ.,  1836,  and 
officiated  as  Tutor,  during  the  years  1837  and  8.  Pie  studied 
theology  in  part,  at  Andover  Seminary,  and  with  Rev.  Dr. 
Ide,  and  completed  the  usual  course  at  Union  Theol.  Semi 
nary. 

After  laboring  two  years  at  the  West  as  missionary,  he 
returned  to  Massachusetts,  and  was  ordained  over  the  church 
in  Berkley,  8  July,  1842.  He  was  dismissed  in  1844,  and 
afterwards  preached  in  New  York,  Freetown,  and  Mendon. 
He  was  installed  at  Auburn,  in  this  state,  9  July,  1851,  and 
there  now  continues. 

Mr.  Chamberlain  married  a  daughter  of  Moses  and  Chloe 
(Hodges)  Bassett,  natives  of  Norton,  but  residents,  after 
marriage,  at  Providence,  R.  I. 


REV.    ASA    HIXON.  207 


75.    REV.    SAMUEL    HUNT 

Is  the  son  of  Dea.  Richard  and  Ann  (Humphrey)  Hunt,  of 
Attleboro',  in  which  town  he  was  born.  He  graduated  at 
Amherst  College,  1833,  and  studied  theology  with  Rev.  J. 
Ide,  D.  D. 

He  was  ordained  at  Natick,  17  July,  1839,  and  dismissed 
May,  1850.  He  was  installed  pastor  of  the  church  in  Frank 
lin,  4  December,  1850,  which  office  he  fills  at  this  date. 

Mr.  Hunt  has  published  "  Letters  to  the  Avowed  Friends 
of  Missions,"  1844  ;  «  Political  Duties  of  Christians,"  1848. 

Mr.  Hunt  married  Miss  Mary  Foster,  daughter  of  Maj. 
Josiah  Foster,  of  Southampton,  L.  I.  She  died  Dec.,  1849, 
leaving  three  children. 


76.   REV.   JOHN   HASKELL 

Is  a  native  of  New  Glocester,  Me.,  and  son  of  Caleb  and 
Judith  (Collins)  Haskell.  He  graduated  at  Bowdoin  College, 
1846,  and  at  Bangor  Theological  Seminary,  1850.  He  was 
ordained  pastor  of  the  church  in  Dover,  25  December,  1851. 

Mr.  Haskell  married  Miss  Lucy  J.  Dickey,  daughter  of 
Mr.  George  and  Lucy  L.  (Patch)  Dickey,  of  Bangor. 


77.   REV.   ASA  HIXON 

Is  the  son  of  Mr.  Asa  Hixon,  of  Medway.  He  graduated 
at  Brown  University,  1825,  pursued  his  theological  course  at 
Auburn  Seminary,  N.  Y.,  and  was  ordained  at  Oakham,  7 
Oct.,  1829,  as  colleague  with  Rev.  Daniel  Tomlinson.  He 
was  compelled  to  resign  his  charge,  25  Dec.,  1832,  on  account 


208  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

of  ill  health,  which  continued,  with  increasing  debility,  until 
he  was,  and  continues  to  be,  entirely  disabled  from  public 
speaking.  He  now  resides  in  Franklin. 

Mr.  Hixon  married  Miss  Charlotte  Baker,  daughter  of 
Capt.  David  and  Jemima  (Richardson)  Baker,  of  Franklin, 
and  sister  of  Rev.  Abijah  R.  Baker,  of  Lynn,  and  has  one 
child,  a  son. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES 


LICENTIATES  OF  MENDON  ASSOCIATION. 


1.   REV.   DAVID    THURSTON. 

[See  Sketches  of  Members,  No.  5.] 

2.  REV.  MOSES    TAFT 

Was  born  in  Mendon,  20  July,  1722 ;  graduated  at  Harvard 
University,  1751,  and  received  A.  M.  in  course.  He  was  or 
dained  second  minister  of  the  new  south  precinct,  in  Brain- 
tree,  now  first  church  in  Randolph,  26  Aug.,  1752.  Rev. 
John  Shaw,  of  Bridgewater,  preached  the  sermon.  The 
written  parts  of  the  ordination,  with  Mr.  Taft's  confession  of 
faith,  were  published ;  the  only  known  copy  of  which  is  in 
the  Mass.  Hist.  Library. 

In  1789,  Rev.  Jonathan  Strong,  D.  D.,  was  settled  as  his 
colleague.  He  died  12  November,  1791,  aged  69,  having 
been  settled  39  years. 

Mr.  Taft  married,  15  Aug.,  1753,  Mary  Dorr,  oldest  child 
of  Rev.  Joseph  Dorr,  of  Mendon.  She  died  10  Jan.,  1796. 
Their  children  were, 

1.  Moses,  born  10  June,  1754;  graduated  Harvard  Uni 
versity,  1774;  physician  in  Sudbury ;  died,  1799. 

18* 


210      BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

2.  Eleazer,  born  11  Oct.,  1755;  H.  U.,  1783  ;  resided- in 
Exeter,  N.  H.,  and  died  there  in  1834. 

3.  Joseph,  born  15  Aug.,  1756  ;  H.  U.,  1783. 

4.  Phinehas,  b.  11  Aug.,  1762  ;  H.  U.,  1789.    He  studied 
theology  with  Dr.  Strong  and  Dr.  Emmons,  was  a  promising 
young  man,  and  thoroughly  orthodox,  after  the  Hopkinsian 
model,  but  he  died  in   1798,  having  never  actively v  entered 
upon  the  ministry.   Mr.  Taft  had  also  four  daughters,  married 
respectively  to  an  Allen,  a  French,  a  Henshaw,  and  Samuel 
Stetson,  of  Boston. 

"  Mr.  Taft's  doctrinal  views  were  evangelical,  though  some 
supposed,  with  little  reason,  that,  towards  the  close  of  his 
ministry,  he  inclined  somewhat  to  Arminianism.  As  a  preach 
er,  he  was  not  especially  distinguished.  His  ministrations 
at  last  were  exceedingly  dull.  His  health  became  very 
infirm,  and  his  excessive  use  of  tobacco  and  opium  impaired 
his  usefulness,  and  induced  a  premature  old  age.  He  became, 
as  a  consequence,  quite  indolent  and  inefficient  in  his  habits, 
and  finally  a  paralytic. 

"  His  character  resembled  that  of  Eli  more  than  that  of 
Nehemiah. 

"  It  is  not  known  that  he  ever  published  anything,  other 
than  the  confession  of  faith  already  mentioned.  A  manu 
script  sermon  of  his,  dated  1771,  still  in  being,  although  in 
nearly  illegible  cacography,  shows  him  to  have  been  naturally 
capable,  and,  at  that  date,  doctrinally  evangelical."* 

3.   REV.   CORNELIUS   JONES 

Is  recorded  as  a  native  of  Bellingham.  He  graduated  at 
Harvard  University  in  1752,  and  received  A.  M.  He  was 
ordained  as  first  pastor  of  the  church  in  Sandisfield  in  1756, 
on  the  same  day  in  which  the  church  was  organized.  Prest. 
Edwards,  then  in  Stockbridge,  preached  the  ordination 

*  Letter  of  Doct.  E.  Alden,  Randolph. 


REV.    NATIIANAEL   POTTER.  211 

sermon,  which,  through  the  lack  of  a  meeting-house,  was 
delivered  in  a  barn. 

Mr.  Jones  was  dismissed  in  1761.  Rev.  D.  D.  Field 
says,*  "  He  never  resettled,  but  preached  occasionally.  He 
resided  for  a  number  of  years  in  Howe ;  then  removed  to 
Skeenesborough,  now  White  Hall,  N.  Y.,  where  he  died  at 
an  advanced  age."  The  Harvard  Catalogue  says  in  1783, 
the  name  of  his  wife  was  Sarah,  and  he  was  married  while 
at  Sandisfield.  Nothing  more  is  known  of  him.  And  even 
at  White  Hall,  the  oldest  citizen  can  give  no  information 
whatever  in  relation  to  him.f 

4.    REV.    NATHANAEL    POTTER 

Is  supposed  to  have  been  a  native  of  Elizabethtown,  N.  J. 
He  graduated  at  Princeton,  N.  J.,  1753,  and  A.  M. ;  also  at 
Harvard,  1758.  He  was  settled  in  Brookline,  19  Nov.,  1755, 
and  dismissed,  17  June,  1759.  He  is  said  to  have  died  at 
sea.  At  what  date,  is  unknown. 

Mr.  Potter  published,  in  1758,  "  A  Discourse  on  Jeremiah 
6 :  20,  preached  on  the  Lord's  Day  morning,  Jan.  1,  1758, 
at  Brookline ;  wherein  is  briefly  attempted  A  Discovery  of 
the  Causes,  of  our  late  National  Calamities,  Disappoint 
ments,  and  Losses,  —  that  they  are  owing  to  our  Sins,"  etc. 
8vo.  27  pp.| 

5.   HON.   JOSEPH   DORR,   JR. 

Was  born  in  Mendon,  24  May,  1730.  He  was  the  only 
son  of  Rev.  Joseph  Dorr,  of  Mendon.  He  graduated  at 
Harvard,  1752,  and  A.  M.,  and  preached  occasionally  for 
several  years,  but  was  never  ordained.  He  early  turned  his 

*  Quarterly  Keg.,  Vol.  VII.,  p.  35. 

t  Letter  of  W.  G.  Wolcott,  P.  M.,  White  Hall,  N.  Y. 

\  Copy  in  Mass.  Hist.  Soc.  Library,  shelf  74.  bk.  21. 


212  BIOGRAPHIC AL S KETCHES . 

attention  and  energies  to  the  political  affairs  of  the  times, 
and  became  an  earnest,  unceasing,  and  vigorous  co-laborer 
with  the  earliest  patriots  of  the  Revolution.  Worcester,  in 
his  immediate  neighborhood,  was  the  central  point  of  the  first 
movements  of  the  Revolution ;  and  none  were  behind  Mr. 
Dorr  in  hastening  it  onwards,  and  directing  its  course.  It  is 
said  that  three  hundred  days  of  each  year  from  1773  to  1780, 
were  devoted  by  him  to  the  public  service  without  compen 
sation. 

Mr.  Dorr  filled  many  important  civil  offices.  He  was 
town-clerk,  justice  of  the  peace,  member  of  the  secret  com 
mittee,  of  the  committee  of  safety,  and  of  the  committee 
of  correspondence.  He  was  one  of  the  commissioners  chosen 
to  wait  upon  the  Mandamus  Councillors  of  the  county  of 
Worcester,  and  to  demand  the  surrender  of  their  charter. 
He  was  also  member  of  the  Legislature,  and,  after  the 
Revolution,  was  appointed  Justice  of  the  Court  of  Common 
Pleas,  and  Judge  of  Probate ;  which  last  offices  were  held 
by  him  till  near  the  close  of  life.  Judge  Dorr  died  31  Oct., 
1808,  aged  78.  He  married  Catharine  Bucknam,  6  Dec., 
1768,  and  had  eight  children.  Two  oldest  died  young.  The 
others  were, 

3.  Joseph  Hawley,  born  20  July,  1772,  a  merchant  of 
Boston.     He  married  Lucy  Penniman  of   New  Braintree, 
and  is  still  living.     He  is  the  father  of  Joseph  H.  Dorr, 
M.  D.,  of  Philadelphia. 

4.  Samuel,  born   23   June,   1774.      President  of  "  New 
England  Bank,"  and  Representative  and  Senator  for  Boston, 
where  he  died  Dec.,  1844.     He  married,  1st,  Lucy,  daughter 
of  Joseph  Fox,  Esq.,  of  Fitchburg,  and  2d,  a  Miss  Brown, 
and  had  seven  children.     Among  them  is  James  A.  Dorr, 
Esq.,  H.  U.,  1813,  lawyer  in  New  York. 

5.  Sarah,  b.  10  Aug.,  1776,  and  married  to  Jonas  Newell, 
of  New  Braintree. 


REV.     ASAP  II    RICE.  213 

6.  Thomas  Shepherd,  born  11  Nov.,  1778;  died  October, 
1816. 

7.  Mary,  born   7  January,  1784,  and  married  to  Oliver 
Fox,  Esq.,  of  Fitchburg. 

8.  Edward,  born  10  Oct.,  178G,  and  settled  in  Nova  Iberia, 
La.     He  owned  Dorr's  Island  at  the  mouth  of  Trinity  River, 
Texas,  and  became  celebrated  for  his  droves  of  horses  and 
cattle.     He  died  in  April,  1847.* 

6.    REV.   ASAPII  RICE      *. 

Was  born  in  Hard  wick,  in  1733,  and  graduated  at  Harvard, 
1752,  and  A.  M. 

The  early  Indian  wars  awakened  an  interest  in  the  spiritual 
condition  of  the  Western  Aborigines.  After  the  close  of  the 
second  war,  Rev.  Eli  Fobes,  afterwards  Dr.  Fobes,  of  North- 
field,  who  had  served  as  chaplain  to  the  colonial  troops  of  1758, 
visited  the  Six  Nations  as  a  missionary  ;  Mr.  Rice  accompa 
nied  him  on  his  return  to  them,  in  1762.  They  were  to  be 
supported  by  a  society  in  Scotland,  and  were  to  labor  among 
the  Oneidas.  Rev.  Dr.  Chauncey,  in  his  ordination  sermon 
of  Mr.  Bowman,  as  the  third  missionary,  at  Boston,  31  Aug., 
1762,  calls  Mr.  Rice, "a  promising  young  man,  who  went 
out  to  spend  his  life  in  the  service." 

On  the  arrival  of  Rev.  Messrs.  Fobes  and  Rice  at  Ohono- 
quagie,  they  assembled  the  chief  men  of  the  tribe,  who  gave 
thanks  for  their  arrival,  and  only  waited  for  the  return  of 
three  sachems,  then  absent,  to  accept  formally  the  services  of 
the  missionaries.  A  Rev.  Mr.  Havvley  had  spent  some  time 
with  them  previous  to  the  war,  and  prepared  them  to  favor 
the  introduction  of  the  Gospel.  Mr.  Fobes  writes : '  we  have 
set  up  a  school  here.  Have  had  a  dozen  a  day  for  twenty 
days/  Two  white  boys  were  members. 

*  Hist,  and  Gcncal.  Register,  Vol.  III.,  p.  312. 


214      BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

Mr.  Fobes  returned  29  Oct.,  1762,  leaving  Mr.  Rice,  who 
was  now,  or  soon  after,  joined  by  Mr.  Bowman.  An  Indian 
church  was  gathered  by  them  at  Ohonoquagie,  on  the  banks 
of  the  Susquehanna.  It  embraced  at  first  ten  members,  five 
males,  and  five  females ;  to  which  three  were  added  before 
Mr.  Rice  returned.  This  church  and  school  were  the  first 
amongst  the  Six  Nations,  and  furnished  some  of  the  earliest 
Indian  pupils  of  Dr.  Wheelock,  afterwards  President  of 
Dartmouth  College.* 

Mr.  Rice  returned  in  1765,  and  was  ordained  pastor  of 
the  church  in  Westminster,  16  Oct.,  1765,  where  he  continued 
until  his  death,  20  March,  1816,  at  the  age  of  83. 

He  married  Mary,  daughter  of  Rev.  Ebenezer  Morse,  of 
Shrewsbury.  She  was  born  24  Dec.,  1747,  and  died  on  the 
birth  of  her  first  child.  Her  father,  afterwards  of  Boylston, 
was  also  a  physician,  and  had,  besides,  many  private  pupils; 
among  whom  was  Dr.  T.  Harris,  of  Dorchester.  Of  Mr. 
R's  family  history,  no  further  account  has  been  obtained. 

Little  of  Mr.  Rice's  further  history  is  known.  No  records 
of  the  church  during  his  fifty  years'  ministry,  exist.  The 
church  numbered  ninety  members  at  his  decease. 

"  Mr.  Rice  is  said  to  have  been  a  man  of  great  dignity,  and 
very  commanding  in  his  personal  appearance.  He  had  many 
excellent  qualities.  The  children  and  youth  both  respected 
him,  and  also  stood  in  great  awe  of  him,  by  reason  of  his 
dignified  person.  He  was  a  man  of  some  talent,  and  consid 
erable  influence  in  his  region.  He  was  reputed  to  have  been 
an  Arminian  in  his  doctrinal  affinities.''! 

7.   REV.   BENJAMIN    CARYL 

Was  the  son  of  Benjamin,  and  grandson  of  Benjamin  and 
Mary  "  Carril,"  and  was  born  in  Hopkinton,  1732.  He  grad- 

*  See  Indian  Documents,  Miss'y  Rooms,  Boston, 
t  Letters  of  Rev.  0.  A.  White,  Westminster. 


REV.    BENJAMIN    CARYL.  215 

uated  at  Harvard,  1761,  and  A.  M. ;  and  was  settled  in  Do 
ver,  10  Nov.,  1762,  —  the  first  minister  of  that  church, — 
\vhere  he  died  14  Nov.,  1811,  after  a  ministry  of  fifty  years, 
and  in  the  80th  year  of  his  age. 

Mr.  Caryl  married,  9  Dec.,  1762,  Mrs.  Sarah  Colick, 
widow  of  Dr.  Colick,  of  Wrentham.  She  was  a  daughter  of 
Rev.  Henry  Messinger,  of  Wrentham.  She  had  had  one 
son,  Cornelius  Colick,  by  her  former  husband,  and  had  two 
sons  by  Mr.  Caryl,  viz.  : 

1.  Benjamin,  b.   6  Dec.,  1764,  and  died  12  Sept.,  1775, 
,aged  11  years. 

2.  George,  b.  1  Apl.,  1767,   grad.  Harvard,  1788,  m.  Miss 
Pamela  Martin,  and  settled  in  Dover  as  physician.  Was  very 
successful,  and  highly  esteemed.    He  died  9  Aug.,  1829, 
leaving  a  son  and  two  daughters,  who,  with  his  widow,  still 
live. 

No  obituary  of  Mr.  Caryl  was  ever  published.  But  his 
report  is  of  a  goodly  savor.  "  He  was  greatly  beloved  by  all, 
and  his  memory  is  cherished  with  affection  and  respect.  All  are 
uniform  in  testifying  that  he  was  a  good  man  and  thoroughly 
orthodox.  He  was  remarkably  gifted  in  prayer.  When  he 
delivered  his  message,  the  tears  were  often  seen  to  roll  down 
his  cheeks.  He  kept  himself  very  much  at  home,  seldom  at 
tending  public  meetings  abroad.  He  drew  as  little  from 
books  as  any  man  of  his  time.  A  lawyer  of  some  eminence 
remarked  of  his  library,  that  "  it  consisted  of  a  Bible,  a  con 
cordance,  and  an  old  jacknife."  His  sermons  are  written  in 
a  very  legible  hand,  and  the  style  is  quite  perspicuous.  But 
one  of  them  —  a  Thanksgiving  Sermon  —  was  published. 
His  funeral  sermon  was  preached  by  Rev.  Mr.  Palmer  of 
Needham. 

His  epitaph  is  as  follows  :  — 


216  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

IN   MEMORY    OF 
REV.  BENJAMIN  CARYL, 

WHO    DIED  NOV.  14,  1811,  M.  80  TEARS,    AND    IN  THE    50TII    YEAR  OF 
HIS    MINISTRY. 

"  The  fathers,  where  are  they  ? 
And  the  prophets,  do  they  live  forever  ?" 

ERECTED  BY  THE  REQUEST  AXD  AT  TUB    EXPENSE  OP  HIS    SOCIETY.* 
8.    REV.    EBENEZER    CHAPLIN. 

[See  Sketches  of  Members,  No.  9.] 

9.    REV.    EZEKIEL    EMERSON 

Was  the  son  of  John  and  Mary  Emerson,  of  Uxbridge. 
He  was  born  in  Uxbridge,  14  Feb.,  1735.  He  graduated  at 
the  college  of  New  Jersey,  1763,  and  during  the  following 
summer  of  1764,  commenced  preaching  in  Phipsburg,  for 
merly  part  of  Georgetown,  Lincoln  Co.,  Me. 

Here  was  one  of  the  earliest  colonies  in  this  province,  and 
the  Gospel  had  been  statedly  enjoyed  in  the  town  from  1738, 
but  no  church  was  organized  until  two  days  before  the  ordi 
nation  of  Mr.  Emerson,  which  ordination  took  place,  3  July, 
1765. 

"  He  remained,  happily  and  peaceably,  with  the  people 
for  about  fourteen  years.  At  that  period,  the  Revolution 
ary  war  rendered  his  situation  unpleasant.  The  settlements 
on  the  coast,  and  especially  at  the  mouth  of  large  rivers, 
were  considered  unsafe,  the  expenses  of  the  war  lay  heavy 
on  the  people,  and  the  depreciation  of  the  paper  currency  of 
the  country  made  Mr.  Emerson's  nominal  salary  to  be  of  lit 
tle  value.  All  these  circumstances  induced  him  to  remove 
for  a  season.  He  accordingly  suspended  his  ministrations  at 
Georgetown,  and,  taking  his  family,  removed  up  the  river 
to  Norridgewock,  where  he  remained  until  1  May,  1783. 

*  Letter  of  Rev.  J.  Haskell,  Dover. 


RE  V.SILAS     BIGLOW.  217 

The  country  was  then  at  peace  ;  and,  taking  the  advice  of  a 
Council,  he  returned,  resumed  his  ministerial  labors  in 
Georgetown,  (now  Phipsburg,)  and  continued  to  discharge 
them  steadily  and  faithfully  until  1810.  At  this  time,  his 
mental  powers  became  impaired  to  a  considerable  degree, 
and  he  found  it  necessary  to  retire  from  the  ministry.  He 
died  9  Nov.,  1815,  at  the  age  of  80  years.  He  is  spoken  of 
with  marked  respect,  as  an  "  excellent  man."  * 

Mr.  Emerson  married  Catharine  Dorr,  second  daughter 
of  Rev.  Joseph  Dorr,  of  Mendon,  27  March,  1760.  He  had 
nine  children,  and  all  but  one  reached  maturity  and  became 
heads  of  families.  The  two  eldest,  Phebe  and  Ezekiel,  were 
born  in  Mendon,  and  settled  in  Norridgewock.  The  third, 
Hawley,  settled  in  Georgetown.  Calvin  settled  in  Fairfield. 

Luther,  b.  26  Sept.,  1772rgrad.  Dartmouth,  1799.  Law 
yer  in  Sedgwick,  and  then  in  Ohio.  The  remaining  children 
were,  Eusebius,  Susannah,  Mary,  and  Elizabeth.  Eliza 
beth  died  in  early  childhood  ;  the  others  left  families  in  Nor 
ridgewock  and  Fairfield,  Me. 

10.    REV.    SILAS    BIGLOW 

Was  the  son  of  Samuel  and  Jedidah  (Hathorn)  Biglow, 
Jr.,  of  Westboro',  whose  father  and  wife  were  of  Marlboro'. 
He  was  born  in  Shrewsbury,  10  Oct.,  1739,  and  graduated 
at  Harvard,  1765,  and  A.  M.  He  was  ordained  at  Paxton, 
21  Oct.,  1767,  and  died  shortly  after,  16  Nov.,  1769,  at  the 
age  of  30  years. 

Mr.  B.  was  engaged  to  Sarah,  daughter  of  Rev.  Dr.  Hall, 
of  Sutton  ;  but  his  sudden  death  prevented  the  union.  She 
afterwards  married  Gen.  Chase,  of  Cornish,  N.  H. 

"  Mr.  Biglow  was  very  highly  esteemed  for  his  intellectual 

*  Greenleafs  Eccl.  History  of  Maine,  and  Williamson's  History  of 
Maine,  as  quoted  in  Hist,  and  Geneal.  Register,  Vol.  Ill,  p.  312. 
19 


218      BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

and  moral  worth,  and  his  ministry  was  very  satisfactory  to 
the  people  of  his  charge."* 

11.   REV.   ALEXANDER    THAYER 

Was  the  son  of  William  and  Abigail  (Sumner)  Thayer,t 
and  was  born  in  Mendon,  25  Jan.,  1744.  He  graduated  at  the 
college  of  New  Jersey,  1 7  65.  He  was  ordained  at  Paxton, — 
the  successor  of  Rev.  Mr.  Biglow  above  —  28  Nov.,  1770. 
His  political  affinities  did  not  at  all  harmonize  with  those  of 
the  staunch  freedom-loving  people  of  Paxton. 

He  was  dismissed  on  account  of  his  strong  Loyalist  opin 
ions,  14  Aug.,  1782.  After  his  dismission,  he  removed  to 
Holliston,  and  there  spent  his  days  as  a  private  citizen.  He 
died  25  Sept.,  1807,  aged  64  years.  The  stone  marking  the 
place  of  his  sepulture,  has  the  following :  — 

Beneath  this  stone  his  body  lies, 
And  mingles  with  its  native  earth  ; 
The  immortal  spirit  to  the  skies 
Is  gone  to  God  who  gave  it  birth. 

Mr.  Thayer  married  Miss  Abigail  Goulding,  and  had  seven 
children :  Patty,  Nabby,  Polly,  Ursula,  Sarah,  John,  and 
Alexander. 

12.    MR.   JOSIAH   READ 

Was  the  son  of  John  and  Lucy  Read,  of  Uxbridge,  in  which 
town  he  was  born,  23  July,  1753.  He  graduated  at  Brown 

*  Letter  of  Rev.  W.  Phipps,  Paxton. 

t  Rev.  Mr.  Thayer's  ancestral  line  is  as  follows :  Alexander,  the  son 
of  William  and  Abigail  (Sumner)  Thayer,  who  was  the  son  of  Thomas 
and  Mary  Thayer,  of  Mendon,  who  was  the  son  of  Ferdinando  and 
Huldah  (Hay ward)  Thayer,  of  Braintree,  who  was  the  son  of  Thomas 
and  Margary  Thayer,  who  came  to  New  England  with  three  children : 
Thomas,  Ferdinando,  and  Shad rach,  and  was  admitted  freeman,  1647, 
and  died  1665. 


REV.    ELISHA   FISH,   JR.  219 

University,  1775,  and  A.  M.  lie  also  received  the  honorary 
degree  of  A.  M.  from  Yale,  1781,  and  from  Harvard,  1785. 
He  did  not  enter  the  ministry.  But  what  became  of  him, 
and  what  was  his  history,  has  not  been  ascertained. 


13.   REV.    ELISHA    FISH,  JR. 

Was  born  in  Upton,  31  March,  1756.  He  was  the  son  of 
Rev.  Elisha  Fish  of  the  same  place,  and  grandson  of  Moses 
Fish,  a  respectable  and  enterprising  farmer  in  Groton,  Ct. 
His  mother  was  Hannah,  daughter  of  Dea.  Fobes,  of  West- 
borough.  He  was  brother  to  Rev.  Holloway  Fish,  (Licentiate 
No.  24). 

He  graduated  at  Harvard,  1779,  and  A.  M.,  studied  theol 
ogy  with  his  father,  and  was  settled  in  Windsor,  16  June,  1785. 
He  was  dismissed  5  July,  1792,  and  settled  in  Gilsum,  N.  H., 
29  May,  1794,  as  the  first  pastor  of  the  church,  and  where 
he  continued  until  his  death,  28  March,  1807,  in  his  5 1st  year. 

Mr.  Fish  married  Abigail  Snell,  daughter  of  Ebenezer  and 
Sarah  (Packard)  Snell,  of  Cummington,  formerly  of  North 
Bridgewater.  She  was  sister  of  Rev.  Thomas  Snell,  D.  D., 
of  North  Brookfield,  and  of  Mrs.  Doct.  Peter  Bryant,  mother 
of  William  Cullen  Bryant,  the  Poet.  They  had  six  children . 
five  of  whom,  two  sons  and  three  daughters,  still  reside  in 
Gilsum,  unwavering  friends  of  the  Gospel  and  the  distin 
guishing  doctrines  which  their  father  taught.  Mrs.  Fish,  af 
ter  living  a  widow  42  years,  died  in  Gilsum,  1  Nov.,  1841,  at 
the  age  of  85. 

While  at  Windsor,  Mr.  Fish  received  an  injury  in  his  right 
ancle,  which  resulted  in  the  loss  of  the  limb,  the  embarrass 
ment  of  his  energies,  and  probably  the  impairing  of  his  health, 
and  the  shortening  of  his  life.  The  church  was  small,  but 
sound  in  doctrine,  and  united  in  their  pastor.  But  Antinom- 


220      BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

ianism  prevailed  in  the  parish  to  such  an  extent  as  before  long 
rendered  his  support  so  precarious,  his  situation  so  unpleasant 
and  his  prospect  of  continued  usefulness  so  dubious,  that  he 
asked  and  received  a  dismission,  His  labors,  however,  were 
not  in  vain.  Besides  witnessing  a  season  of  unusual  ingath 
ering  into  the  church,  he  prepared  the  way  for  a  successor  of 
like  sentiments  —  Rev.  Gordon  Dorrance, —  who  remarked 
that  he  could  never  have  been  sustained  there,  had  not  Mr. 
Fish  by  his  previous  labors,  broken  up  the  hard  and  difficult 
field. 

His  interest  in  the  spiritual  welfare  of  his  people  at  Gil- 
sum,  N.  H.,  was  great,  as  both  his  labors  and  prayers  testified. 
But  he  was  apparently  less  successful  in  the  ministry  here, 
than  many  of  his  brethren.  Still  God  did  not  leave  him 
wholly  without  witness,  even  in  Gilsum,  but  granted  him 
what  might  be  termed  "a  season  of  revival." 

"  In  disposition  Mr.  Fish  was  friendly  and  affectionate  ; 
in  manners  easy  ;  in  conversation  frank  and  sincere,  yet  win 
ning  and  conciliatory.  He  was  styled  a  Hopkinsian,  of  which 
appellation  he  was  not  ashamed.  Nor  did  he  hesitate  to  ac 
knowledge  and  defend  on  all  suitable  occasions,  what  he*  es 
teemed  to  be  the  peculiar  doctrines  of  the  Gospel.  In  his 
ministry,  he  urged  them  with  exemplary  fidelity,  whether 
men  would  hear  or  forbear.  The  duties  too,  which  flow  from 
these  doctrines,  he  fearlessly  expressed  and  conscientiously 
exemplified." 

An  illustrative  anecdote  may  be  given.  About  the  time 
of  his  settlement  in  Gilsum,  he  was  called  to  a  council  in  a 
neighboring  town,  to  ordain  a  candidate  of  that  class,  whose 
creed,  as  one  of  the  number  remarked, i  rather  consisted  in 
not  believing.'  Only  one  other  Evangelical  minister  was 
invited  on  the  council,  and  he  found  it  necessary  or  conven 
ient  to  be  absent  on  a  journey.  Thus  Mr.  Fish  was  without 
a  single  sympathizing  clerical  friend.  When  he  found  the 


REV.    MOSES    WARREN.  221 

council  disposed  to  proceed  without  examination  or  inquiry, 
he  insisted  upon  a  confession  of  faith  from  the  candidate. 
The  answer  of  the  candidate,  that  l  the  Bible  was  his  confes 
sion  of  faith,'  was  received  by  the  council  with  applause.  But 
Mr.  Fish  was  not  so  easily  satisfied,  nor  would  he  be  silenced ; 
but  continued  his  interrogatories,  till  the  candidate  stood  con 
fessed  before  the  council  as  an  Arian,  and  a  favorer,  if  not 
an  advocate  of  Universalism.  He  now  felt  that  the  path  of 
duty  was  plain,  and  after  a  manly  defence  of  the  truth  in  face 
of  violent  opposition,  he  entered  his  protest,  in  which  five  lay- 
members  united,  against  a  man  who  entertained  views  so 
subversive  of  the  Gospel.  For  this  he  met  with  severe  re 
buke  from  some  of  the  members  of  the  council.  But  his 
conscience  approved  his  course ;  and  one  of  his  most  violent 
assailants  on  that  council,  subsequently  became  a  friend  to  the 
same  system  of  truth,  and  advocated  the  very  faith  he  before 
had  endeavored  so  vigorously  to  destroy.* 


14.  REV.   MOSES    WARREN 

Was  the  son  of  Dea.  Jonas  and  Lydia  Warren,  was  born 
in  Upton,  31  Oct.,  1758.  He  graduated  at  Harvard  college, 
1784,  A.  M.,  1788,  and  was  ordained  over  the  church  in 
South  Wilbraham,  3  Sept.,  1788.  Rev.  E.  Fish,  Jr.,  of  Wind 
sor,  preached  the  sermon  from  Mai.  2:7.  He  continued  in 
the  pastorate  here  forty  years,  until  his  death,  19  Feb.,  1829, 
in  his  71st  year. 

Mr.  Warren  married  the  daughter  of  Hon.  John  Bliss, 
Esq.,  of  his  own  parish,  —  a  man  of  great  worth,  of  ardent 
piety,  and  who  was  one  of  the  Judges  of  the  court  in  the 
county  of  Hampshire,  for  many  years.  He  had  four  chil 
dren,  who  lived  to  adult  age,  —  three  sons  and  a  daughter. 

*  Letter  of  Kev.  E.  Adams,  Gilsum,  N.  H. 
19* 


BIOGRAPHICAL     SKETCHES. 

Two  of  the  sons  received  a  classical  education  at  Williams 
College  ;  one  of  whom  entered  the  ministry  and  spent  his  days 
principally  at  the  South ;  and  was  highly  esteemed,  as  a 
sound  orthodox  divine  and  an  interesting  preacher.  He  has 
been  dead  for  some  years,  as  are  both  the  other  sons.  •  The 
youngest  died  May,  1851,  in  South  Wilbraham,  having  occu 
pied  the  same  house  as  his  father  during  his  forty  years' 
ministry.  The  daughter  of  Rev.  Mr.  Warren  was  married 
to  Rev.  Levi  Smith,  and  is  still  living  with  him  at  East 
Windsor  Hill,  Ct. 

"  Mr.  Warren  sustained  a  respectable  standing  in  his  class 
as  a  classical  scholar.  He  was  uncommonly  amiable  in  his 
disposition  and  circumspect  in  his  deportment,  so  that  he  was 
highly  esteemed  by  his  instructors  and  beloved  by  his 
acquaintance. 

u  As  a  preacher  of  the  Gospel,  Mr.  Warren  was  consider 
ably  above  mediocrity.  His  sermons  were  written  in  a 
simple  but  chaste  style,  were  remarkable  for  the  appropriate 
introduction  of  Scripture  language,  which  ever  rendered 
them  edifying  to  pious  hearers.  They  were  delivered  with 
a  solemnity  which  indicated  the  responsibility  which  he  felt 
to  the  Master  whom  he  served,  and  the  anxious  desire  he 
had  to  be  useful  to  his  hearers. 

"  His  demeanor  was  marked  by  a  diffidence  which  pre 
vented  his  intellectual  worth  from  being  readily  appreciated 
by  strangers,  or  by  those  who  were  slightly  acquainted  with 
him.  But  his  remarks  on  the  performances  of  others,  at  the 
Associational  meetings,  on  Councils,  and  at  other  times, 
were  always  discriminating  and  instructive.  And  they  were 
ever  given  with  a  spirit  which  made  them  highly  respected. 

"  Mr.  Warren  was  always  tender  of  the  feelings  of  those 
who  differed  from  him,  and  carefully  avoided  all  severe  re 
flection,  while  he  defended  his  own  views  with  firmness.  He 
never  made  an  enemy.  He  was  greatly  beloved  by  his 
parishioners,  and  lived  in  peace  with  Christians  of  other  de- 


R  E  V.    J  A  C  0  B     C  11  A  M  .  223 

nominations  in  his  own  town,  and  was  highly  esteemed  by 
them. 

"  He  was  a  man  of  prayer.  It  was  his  uniform  practice, 
when  he  visited  any  of  his  ministerial  brethren,  or  was  vis 
ited  by  any  one  of  them,  to  propose  uniting  in  a  short  season 
of  devotion  before  they  separated.  This  practice  arose  from 
the  overflowings  of  a  pious  heart ;  for  no  man  could  suspect 
him  of  having  a  wish  for  self-exaltation. 

"Mr. Warren  lived  in  quietness  and  harmony  with  the  peo 
ple  over  whom  he  was  first  ordained.  And  although  individ 
uals,  from  time  to  time,  left  his  ministry  to  join  other  denomi 
nations,  it  was  not  from  disaffection  to  him  ;  for  all  esteemed 
him  as  "  a  good  man,  and  full  of  the  Holy  Ghost  and  of  faith." 
His  salary  was  always  small,  but  he  was  contented  with  it. 
His  people  cheerfully  paid  it,  and  never  manifested  any  de 
sire  of  a  change  in  their  relations. 

"  The  Hampden  Association,  to  which  Mr.  Warren  be 
longed,  assembled  at  his  house  two  or  three  days  before  his 
death.  He  had  looked  forward  to  this  meeting,  as  he  told 
them,  with  much  interest,  for  he  always  enjoyed  the  society 
of  his  brethren.  But  he  was  too  unwell  to  attend  to  the  exer 
cises.  No  one,  however,  supposed  that  he  was  sick  unto 
death  ;  and  when  they  took  leave  of  him,  on  his  bed,  they 
did  not  sorrow  because  they  expected  "  to  see  his  face  no 
more."  All  were  surprised,  when  they  were  so  soon  called  to 
follow  their  revered  and  beloved  brother  to  the  house  ap 
pointed  for  all  living."  * 

15.    REV.    JACOB    CRAM    S"  ' 

Was  the  son  of  Col.  Jonathan  Cram,  of  Hampton  Falls, 
N.  H.,  and  a  descendant  of  John  Crarn,  one  of  the  first  set- 

*  Letter  of  Rev.  S.  Osgood,  D.  D.,  Springfield. 


224  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

tiers  of  Exeter,  N.  II.,  1639.*  He  was  born  12  Oct.,  1762, 
fitted  for  college  at  Dummer  Academy,  Byfield,  and  gradu 
ated  at  Dartmouth  Coll.,  1782,  and  A.  M.  in  course.  He 
studied  Theology  with  N.  Emmons,  D.  D.  His  college  class 
embraced  four  members,  one  of  whom  was  Caleb  Bingham, 
known  as  compiler  of  the  "  American  Preceptor." 

In  1788,  June  2,  he  received  an  invitation  to  settle  over 
the  church  in  Hampstead,  N.  H. ;  but,  on  the  strength  of  an 
invitation  from  Hopkinton,  N.  H.,  he  left,  without  returning 
any  formal  answer  to  the  call  from  the  former  place,  and  on 
the  25th  Feb.,  1789,  was  ordained  at  Hopkinton.  He  was 
dismissed,  5  Jan.,  1792,  apparently  on  account  of  difficulties 
connected  with  his  pecuniary  transactions  amongst  his  people. 
He  next  labored  as  a  missionary  amongst  the  Stockbridge 
Indians  in  Western  New  York.  He,  together  with  Rev. 
David  Avery,  were  the  first  missionaries  appointed  by  the 
Massachusetts  Home  Missionary  Society.  Mr.  Cram's  com 
mission  is  dated  3  July,  1800,  and  specifies  as  a  field  "  the 
region  between  Whitestown  and  Genesee  river,  Western 
New  York."f 

After  laboring  a  while,  he  left  that  region,  15  May,  1801, 
and  came  to  Exeter,  N.  H.,  where  he  spent  the  rest  of  his 
days.  His  ruling  feature  of  character,  parsimony,  which 
had  from  the  beginning  obstructed  his  usefulness,  rapidly 
settled  into  a  species  of  monomania,  and  prevented  his  em 
ployment  almost  entirely  as  a  preacher,  during  the  rest  of 
his  life.  He  died  at  Exeter,  21  December,  1833,  aged  71 
years. 

*  Col.  J.  Cram  married  Miss  Mary  Cram.  They  had  seven  children : 
1.  Rev.  Jacob,  the  present  subject.  2.  Jonathan,  of  Marietta,  O. 
3.  Benjamin,  of  Pittsfield,  N.  H.  4.  Lois,  married  to  Rev.  John  Web 
ber,  of  Sandown,  N.  H.,  who  afterwards  went  to  the  West.  5.  Mary, 
married  to  Joseph  Ware.  6.  Eunice,  and  7.  Martha,  also  married. 

t  Letter  of  Rev.  J.  S.  Clark.  D.  D.,  Sec.  M.  H.  M.  S. 


REV.     JACOB     CRAM.  225 

Mr.  Cram  married  Miss  Mary  Poor  of  Exeter,  daughter 
of  General  Poor,  of  Revolutionary  fame,  a  truly  excellent 
and  pious  man  ;  but  who  was  drawn  into  a  duel  with  a 
French  officer,  and  was  killed.  Her  mother's  name  was 
Osgood,  of  Andover,  where  General  Poor  also  belonged. 
Mrs.  Poor  was  opposed  to  the  union,  on  account  of  Mr. 
Cram's  eccentricities ;  but  the  daughter,  like  her  mother 
before  her,  had  her  own  way,  and  was  privately  married  at 
the  house  of  a  neighbor,  13  Sept.,  1804.  She  died  19  July, 
1848,  aged  79,  having  been  born  in  1769,  and  married  at  the 
age  of  35,  when  Mr.  Cram  was  41.  Their  only  child  was 
Martha,  who,  at  18,  became  the  third  wife  of  a  Col.  Rogers, 
and  was  the  mother  of  two  sons,  Jacob  and  Charles,  still 
living.  She  died  at  an  early  age. 

Mrs.  Cram  was  a  woman  of  distinguished  excellence. 
Her  piety  was  profound,  vital,  strict.  She  had  some  peculi 
arities.  It  was  because  of  her  strict  injunctions,  that  no 
tombstones  mark  the  grave  of  eithef  her  husband,  her  mother, 
or  herself.  They  all  lie  buried  together  undistinguished  and 
undistinguishable,  in  an  old  cemetery  near  the  railway  station 
at  Exeter. 

Rev.  Mr.  Cram  appears,  by  current  traditions,  to  have  been 
an  original  in  very  earnest.  His  besetting  sin,  or  infirmity, 
as  you  please,  has  been  alluded  to.  It  obtained,  in  the  course 
of  his  life,  to  some  very  instructive  developments.  If  his 
history  could  be  fully  written,  it  would  prove  a  curious 
episode  in  the  common  run  of  these  brief  and  barren 
sketches. 

He  was  naturally  and  from  the  beginning  very  eccentric, 
and  of  strong  passions ;  and  his  ruling  propensity,  penu- 
riousness,  early  gained  a  decided  visibility.  His  patrimony, 
by  most  solicitous  protection  and  increase,  rose  at  one  time 
to  about  ten  thousand  dollars.  But  it  proved  to  be  another 
illustration  of  Solomon's  class  of  riches,  "  kept  for  the  owners 
thereof  to  their  hurt,"  developing  miserly  habits  and  ques- 


226      BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

tionable  deeds.  He  took  great  pains  to  conceal  his  property, 
to  avoid  paying  taxes.  He  once  owned  the  tract  of  land  on 
which  the  city  of  Utica,  N.  Y.,  now  stands.  But  it  was  sold 
at  auction,  under  execution,  to  pay  the  taxes  which  he 
begrudged. 

His  ruling  feature,  so  carefully  cultivated  and  indulged, 
very  early  shaded  off  into  a  downright  but  very  subtle  and 
peculiar  derangement,  involving  the  stability  of  his  other 
mental  attributes.  Yet  so  peculiar  and  subtile  was  it,  as  to 
leave  a  wide  debatable  space  for  locating  the  line  of  respon 
sibility. 

He  had,  in  his  later  days,  frequent  paroxysms  of  the  mis 
sionary  spirit,  when  he  would  visit  the  towns  in  the  vicinage, 
carrying  books,  and  preaching  as  he  could  get  an  audience. 
He  then  insisted  upon  the  utmost  deference  to  his  ministerial 
office,  and  was  most  sensitive  to  any  the  least  apparent 
slights.  Wherever  he  tarried,  he  insisted  upon  conducting 
family  prayers,  saying  grace  at  the  table,  and  would  often 
awake  early  in  the  morning  and  lie  in  bed,  singing  most 
lustily,  Old  Windham,  and  similar  tunes,  to  the  annoyance 
or  diversion  of  the  aroused  inmates  of  the  house. 

Anon,  this  impulse  would  pass  away,  and  he  would  oscillate 
to  the  laical  extreme,  and  dressed  in  leather  apron  and 
cast-off  garments,  teach  contempt  for  appearances,  after  the 
manner  of  Socrates.  Again,  a  passion  for  military  display 
ruled  the  hour.  Through  the  influence  of  his  son-in-law, 
Col.  Rogers,  he  had  been  appointed  chaplain  of  the  militia 
regiment.  He  appeared  regularly  upon  the  muster-field  for 
many  years,  with  three-cornered  hat  and  flowing  sash,  and 
often  paraded  in  the  streets,  at  otner  times,  clothed  in  regi 
mentals,  and  unabashed  by  the  public  gaze. 

The  erection  of  a  Universalist  meeting-house  in  Exeter 
grievously  annoyed  him.  As  the  only  available  off-set,  he 
determined  to  anticipate  its  owners,  and  stamp  an  orthodox 
dedication  upon  it.  Watching  his  opportunity,  when  the 


REV.    SOLOMON    AIKEN.  227 

house  was  nearly  completed  and  the  workmen  were  at  dinner, 
he  gathered  in  a  few  boys,  and,  with  their  help  in  singing, 
though  with  many  drawbacks  in  the  way  of  noise  and 
giggling  on  their  part,  he  performed  a  species  of  dedicatory 
service,  which  he  boasted  of  for  weeks  afterwards,  as  a  most 
shrewd  triumph.  But,  whether  through  the  influence  of  the 
dedication,  or  the  subsequent  preaching,  or  from  some  other 
cause,  the  building  is  now  used  as  a  billiard-room! 

Mr.  Cram's  habit  was  to  dress  very  slightly  in  winter.  In 
this  way  he  contracted  a  cold  which  terminated  his  days. 

Although  he  was  not  an  attractive  preacher,  he  was  much 
of  a  scholar,  and  exhibited  in  his  selection  of  a  library,  which 
was  sold  after  his  widow's  death,  an  uncommon  appreciation 
of  sterling  works.  His  own  manuscripts  were  all  committed 
to  the  flames.  No  printed  work  of  his  is  known,  other  than 
a  fragment,  somewhere  existent,  entitled,  "  Conference  with 
Red-Jacket,"  in  which  the  white  man  is  Mr.  Cram.* 

16.   REV.    SOLOMON   AIKEN 

Was  born  in  Hard  wick,  15  July,  1758.  He  was  the 
second  son  of  John  and  Jerusha  Aiken,  whose  parents 
migrated  from  Scotland.  At  the  age  of  18,  he  enlisted  in  the 
Revolutionary  army,  served  two  years,  and  was  honorably 
discharged.  During  this  time,  he  indulged  a  hope  of  con 
version,  and  immediately  after  his  discharge  commenced  his 
studies.  He. graduated  at  Dartmouth  College,  1786,  and 
A.  M. ;  studied  theology  with  Rev.  E.  Fish,  of  Upton. 

He  was  settled  in  Dracut,  4  June,  1788,  dismissed  4  June, 
1812,  and  entered  the  U.  S.  Army,  as  chaplain.  He  was 
stationed  on  Fort  Independence  in  Boston  harbor.  At  the 
end  of  the  war,  he  returned  to  Dracut,  and  resided  there, 
preaching  occasionally  until  1818,  when  he  removed  with  his 

*  Letter  of  Rev.  K.  D.  Hitchcock,  Exeter,  N.  H. 


228      BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

family  to  Hard  wick,  Vt,  where  lie  died,  1  June,  1833,  aged 
75  years. 

His  stone  bears  the  following  inscription  :  — 

THE     G  E  A  V  E 

OF 

REV.   SOLOMON    AIKEN. 

CORN   JULY    15,    1758. 
DIED   JUXE    1,    1833. 

In  youth,  a  Soldier  of  the  Revolution;  in  age,  the  Christian  Pastor; 
And  through  life,  the  firm  and  inflexible  Friend  of 

CIVIL   AND    RELIGIOUS   LIBERTY. 

Mr.  Aiken  married  Mary,  daughter  of  Capt.  Daniel  War 
ner,  of  Hardwick,  Mass.  She  died  at  Hardwick,  Vt.,  Oct., 
1820,  deeply  lamented  as  a  devoted  Christian.  They  left 
9  children,  —  4  sons  and  5  daughters,  viz  :  Solomon,  Justus 
Warner,  Daniel,  and  Samuel  Adams,  all  living.  The  latter, 
S.  A.  Aiken,  is  well  known  as  Professor  of  Penmanship. 
The  eldest  daughter,  Mrs.  Sophia  Spalding,  died  in  1849. 
The  youngest,  Selina,  wife  of  Dea.  G.  H.  Cook,  died  in 
Portland,  in  1850.  Alma,  the  second  daughter,  is  in  Boston. 
The  other  daughters,  with  the  sons  above  mentioned,  reside 
in  Hardwick,  Vt. 

Mr.  Aiken  enjoyed  uncommon  health  and  vigor.  He 
never  took  a  particle  of  medicine,  or  lost  a  relish  for  food, 
until  his  final  and  brief  sickness,  —  a  pleurisy  fever. 

He  possessed  peculiar  power  as  a  logician,  and  was  very 
popular  as  a  preacher.  He  was  kind-hearted  and  benevolent, 
almost  to  a  fault. 

But  it  is  chiefly  as  a  political  writer  that  Mr.  Aiken  is 
remembered.  He  was  sent  as  representative  two  years,  by 
the  town  of  Dracut.  He  published  several  sermons  and 
pamphlets,  chiefly  upon  political  themes,  which  excited  much 
attention  in  their  season.  Among  them  are,  2  Sermons  at 
Dracut,  1809  ;  Letter  to  Dr.  Samuel  Spring,  of  Newbury- 


REV.     ENOCH   POND.  229 

port,  in  Answer  to  a  Keview  of  the  Sermon  ;  Fast  Sermon, 
1812;  Sermon  on  the  Rise  and  Progress  of  Religious  Dis- 
sention  in  the  United  States  ;  Ordination  Sermon  of  Rev. 
S.  T.  Barton,  Tewksbury,  1792. 

17.   REV.    ENOCH    POND 

Was  the  eldest  son  of  Dea.  Jacob  Pond,*  of  Wrentham, 
where  he  was  born,  27  April,  1756.  He  graduated  at  Brown 
University  in  1777,  and  A.  M. ;  and  entered  the  American 
Army  for  one  year.  He  served  as  Ensign  in  Col.  William 
R.  Lee's  regiment,  to  which  office  he  was  appointed  4  June, 
1777.  On  the  expiration  of  his  time  of  enlistment,  he  was 
employed  for  some  years  as  school-teacher  in  Boston,  where 
he  was  much  admired.  He  studied  theology  with  Rev.  Dr. 
Emmons,  and  in  1789  was  ordained  over  the  church  in  Ash- 
ford,  Ct.,  where  he  continued  until  his  death,  6  Aug.,  1807, 
in  the  52d  year  of  his  age.  His  disease  was  consumption. 

Mr.  Pond  married,  first,  Miss  Margaret  Smith,  daughter 
of  Col.  John  Smith,  of  Wrentham,  by  whom  he  had  nine 
children.  She  died  in  1 800,  and  on  the  Sabbath  following, 
while  her  remains  awaited  interment,  Mr.  Pond  preached  to 
his  people.  Dr.  Welch  calls  her,  in  her  funeral  sermon,  — 
"  a  prudent,  discreet,  and  faithful  wife,  a  kind  and  tender 
mother,  an  affectionate  sister,  a  benevolent  neighbor,  a  faith 
ful  friend."  His  second  wife  was  Mrs.  Mary  Baker,  of 
Roxbury,  who  survived  him. 

*  His  emigrant  ancestor,  Ephraim  Pond,  came  from  England,  and 
was  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Wrentham.  He  had  a  son  Ephraim, 
who  was  father  of  Dea.  Jacob  Pond,  sen.,  and  grand-father  of  Dea. 
Jacob  Pond,  jr.  Dea.  Pond,  jr.,  died  1815,  aged  86,  and  was  the 
father  of  Rev.  Enoch,  above,  —  his  eldest  son.  His  youngest  son  was 
Dea.  Elijah  Pond,  who  died,  1847,  aged  82,  and  who  was  the  father  of 
Rev.  Enoch  Pond,  D.  D.,  of  Bangor,  and  also  of  Gen.  Preston  Pond, 
who  is  in  turn  the  father  of  Rev.  Preston  Pond,  jr.,  of  Boston ;  —  a 
clerical  familv  ! 

20 


230  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

Mr.  Pond's  ministry  was  marked  by  several  powerful 
revivals  of  religion.  One  in  1798  resulted  in  the  addition  of 
80  members  to  the  church. 

"  He  was  peculiarly  tender  and  affectionate  in  his  family. 
He  was  never  idle.  He  was  a  peacemaker  in  the  neighbor 
ing  churches,  and  universally  beloved.  He  fitted  many 
scholars  for  the  university,  and  some  for  the  Gospel  ministry. 
As  a  preacher,  he  was  plain,  practical,  and  persuasive.  He 
had  a  readiness  of  utterance,  a  force  and  fluency  of  expres 
sion,  which  are  possessed  by  few.  His  performances  during 
the  latter  part  of  his  life  were  chiefly  extemporaneous.  The 
ease  and  pertinence  with  which  he  could  express  his  ideas 
with  little  premeditation,  led  him  on  some  occasions  to  neg 
lect,  perhaps  to  a  fault,  a  preparation  for  the  pulpit.  He  was, 
in  short,  an  amiable  companion,  and  a  man  of  modest,  unassum 
ing  worth.  By  means  of  his  councils,  instructions,  and  pray 
ers,  Ashford  rose  from  a  state  of  comparative  rudeness  to  be 
one  of  the  most  flourishing  inland  towns  of  Connecticut." 

He  was  particularly  celebrated  as  a  skilful  singer. 

The  following  lines,  prepared  by  one  of  his  neighboring 
brethren  in  the  ministry,  to  be  recorded  upon  his  tombstone, 
are  considered  a  just  tribute  to  his  memory  :  — 

GENEROUS   IN   TEMPER, 

Correct  in  Science,  and  Liberal  in  Sentiment ; 
The  Gentleman,  the  Scholar,  and  the  Minister  of  the  Sanctuary. 

APPEARED  WITH  ADVANTAGE  IN 

MR.   POND. 

-  The  Church  and  Society  in  Ashford  were  favored  with  his 

GOSPEL   MINISTRY   EIGHTEEN   YEARS. 

In  yonder  sacred  house  he  spent  his  breath. 
Now  silent,  senseless  here  he  lies  in  death. 
These  lips  again  shall  wake,  and  then  declare 
A  loud  Amen  to  truths  they  published  there.* 

*  See  obituary  in  Panoplist  and  Magazine,  XIV.,  315. 


REV.    W  ALTER     HARRIS,    D.    D.  231 


18.    REV.    WALTER    HARRIS,    D.    D. 

Was  born  in  Lebanon,  Ct.,  8  June,  1761.  His  parents 
were  Nathaniel  and  Grace  Harris,  of  whose  five  children,  — 
two  sons  and  three  daughters,  —  he  was  the  youngest.  He 
graduated  at  Dartmouth  College,  1787,  and  A.  M. ;  whence 
lie  also  received  a  Doctorate  in  1826.  He  studied  theology 
with  Rev.  Dr.  Emmons,  and  was  ordained  the  first  pastor  of 
the  church  in  Dunbarton,  N.  H.,  26  Aug.,  1789.  After 
forty  years'  labor,  his  health  became  impaired,  and  he  asked 
and  received  a  dismission,  7  July,  1830.  He  died  25  Dec., 
1843,  aged  82. 

Such  are  the  chief  statistics  of  Dr.  Harris's  life.  But  his 
whole  history  deserves  a  minute  study.  A  condensed  brevity 
alone  is  here  allowable. 

The  father  of  Dr.  Harris  died  shortly  before  his  birth,  and 
he  was  deprived  of  his  mother  before  he  was  sixteen.  The 
three  daughters  were  provided  for  in  other  families,  and 
Walter  and  his  brother  Nathaniel,  two  years  his  senior,  were 
left,  without  parent  or  guardian,  and  with  a  mere  pittance 
of  property,  to  provide  for  themselves.  They  enlisted  into 
the  Continental  Army  in  May,  1777.  In  the  same  year, 
Nathaniel  fell  in  battle  at  Philadelphia,  and  Walter  was 
frequently  in  jeopardy.  But  he  served  out  his  term  of  three 
years'  enlistment,  as  fifer,  and  was  honorably  discharged, 
May,  1790,  then  not  quite  nineteen. 

With  his  scanty  wages  and  patrimony,  he  migrated  to 
Lebanon,  N.  H.,  purchased  a  tract  of  wild  land  near  Dart 
mouth  College,  and  went  alone  with  his  axe  into  the  forest 
to  spend  the  winter.  But  the  young  pioneer  was  soon  sur. 
rounded  by  the  thrilling  scenes  of  a  powerful  revival  of 
religion  in  the  town.  And  a  sermon  he  heard  in  the  neigh 
borhood,  awakened  him  to  his  own  actual  destitutions. 

The  struggle  was  long,  obstinate,  and  characteristic  of  the 


232      BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

future  man.  Wearied  with  his  anxious  searchings,  and 
crushed  with  his  increasing  convictions,  and  with  his  pro 
tracted  fastings,  he  resolved,  in  despair,  in  the  midst  of 
winter,  to  cast  himself  down  upon  the  snow  in  the  bleakest 
place  in  his  field,  and  there  remain  in  prayer  till  he  perished 
with  cold  or  found  relief.  He  chose  a  position  on  the  north 
side  of  a  stump,  near  an  opening  among  the  trees,  where  the 
cold  winter's  blasts  rushed  through  with  unendurable  keen 
ness,  and  fell  upon  his  knees,  determined  never  to  leave  the 
spot  till  he  should  hear  the  voice  of  mercy.  He  remained 
but  a  short  time  before  he  seemed  to  hear,  in  reality,  a  voice, 
saying  in  wrath,  —  "  What,  rebel!  seek  to  limit  the  Holy  One 
of  Israel!  Arise!  and  flee  for  thy  life, —  or  thou  art  a  dead 
man  !  "  He  fled  to  the  house  in  horror  at  his  guilt. 

After  passing  through  what  seemed  to  him  a  foretaste  of 
the  pains  of  hell,  he  fell  submissively,  cordially,  upon  the 
sovereign,  electing  love  of  God  in  Christ  for  salvation.  His 
experience  imparted  a  peculiar  thoroughness  and  fidelity  to 
his  subsequent  preaching. 

His  mind  was  from  this  moment  directed  to  the  Gospel 
ministry,  as  the  chosen  avocation  of  his  heart.  And  although 
without  even  a  common  school  education,  and  encumbered 
with  his  farm,  yet  he  resolved,  after  prayerfully  weighing  the 
solicitations  of  friends, that  he  would  'go  to  college.'  "With 
him,  this  was  almost  tantamount  to  execution. 

He  first  attended  a  common  school ;  then  began  the  study 
of  the  languages  with  a  private  teacher,  and  finally  completed 
his  preparation  in  Moore's  Charity  School,  on  Dartmouth 
plain.  At  his  graduation  from  college,  his  commencement 
exercise  was  delivered  in  Hebrew. 

This  testimony  is  given  of  his  college  career  by  one  of  his 
instructors  :  —  "  Rarely  have  I  met  with  a  man  more  decided 
and  unequivocal,  more  upright  and  downright  than  he.  He 
had  a  mind  of  uncommon  strength,  and  unusually  patient  of 


REV.    WALTER     HARRIS,    D.D.  233 

labor.     He  was  most  distinguished  in  the  solid  and  useful 
branches  of  study." 

After  his  graduation,  he  taught  a  Latin  school  six  months 
in  Boscawen.  It  was  here  that  an  occasional  sermon  of  Dr. 
Emmons  fell  into  his  hands.  Having  perused  it  with  deep 
interest,  he  laid  it  down,  and  said,  with  emphasis,  "  I  will 
study  divinity  with  the  author  of  that  sermon,  if  I  can  find 
him."  He  did  find  him ;  and  never  fit  teacher  had  a  fitter 
learner.* 


*  It  is  his  creed  that  was,  by  vote,  copied  into  the  Records,  and 
became  the  theological  basis,  of  the  Mendon  Association.  It  is  here 
inserted :  — 

"  I  believe  that  there  is  one,  and  but  one,  true  God ;  who  created, 
upholds,  and  governs  all  things  in  the  universe  ;  and  who  is  possessed 
of  tall  natural  and  moral  perfections.  That  the  scriptures  of  the  Old 
and  New  Testaments  are  the  word  of  God  ;  that  they  were  written  by 
men  Divinely  inspired ;  that  they  exhibit  a  perfect  rule  of  conduct, 
which  we  are  bound  to  follow  ;  and  that  they  contain  all  knowledge 
requisite  to  eternal  salvation.  That  the  Deity  subsists  in  three  distinct 
persons,  the  Father,  the  Son,  and  the  Holy  Ghost ;  that  these  three  are 
perfectly  equal  in  all  Divine  perfections  and  excellence.  That  God, 
from  all  eternity,  has  fore-ordained  and  perfectly  seen  through  all 
events,  which  ever  have,  or  ever  will,  take  place,  both  in  the  natural 
and  moral  world.  That  God  made  the  first  man  perfectly  holy,  and 
set  him  as  a  public  head  or  representative  of  his  posterity,  and  that 
he  sinned  against  God,  and  fell  from  Him  ;  and  in  consequence  of  his 
fall,  all  his  descendants  now  come  into  the  world  sinners,  totally 
depraved,  and  under  Divine  condemnation.  That  Jesus  Ch  nst,  being 
God  and  man,  in  one  person,  has  wrought  out  a  complete  righteousness 
by  his  obedience,  sufferings,  and  death,  and  made  an  atonement  suffi 
cient  for  all  the  human  race.  That  God  has,  from  all  eternity,  elected 
some  to  everlasting  life,  whom  he  will,  by  his  special  and  sovereign 
grace,  bring  to  the  acceptance  of  Jesus  Christ,  while  he  leaves  others  to 
neglect  him,  to  their  own  eternal  destruction.  That  it  is  wholly  through 
the  righteousness  and  atonement  of  Christ,  that  we  are  accepted  and 
justified  in  the  sight  of  God.  That  a  man  must  be  regenerated,  or. 
renewed  in  the  disposition  of  his  mind,  in  order  to  see  the  kingdom  of 
God ;  and  that  faith  and  all  holy  exercises  are  wrought  by  the  effica- 
20* 


234      BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES- 

After  approbation,  lie  preached  at  Canterbury,  Dumbarton, 
and  Royalton,  Vt.,  and  again  at  Dumbarton,  where  he  receiv 
ed  a  call  to  settle  amongst  them.  He  accepted  conditionally, 
returned  to  Franklin  and  studied  three  months  longer  with 
Dr.  Emmons,  and  then  was  ordained. 

The  church  had  been  organized  on  the  18th  of  June  pre 
ceding. 

Arminianism  and  lax  discipline  prevailed  extensively  in 
the  town ;  but  the  faithful  doctrinal  preaching  and  earnest 
prayers  of  Dr.  Harris,  and  his  near  brethren,  Rev.  Moses 
Bradford  of  Francestown,  Rev.  Reed  Paige  of  Hancock,  and 
Dr.  Wood  of  Boscawen,  effected,  under  God,  an  entire  revo 
lution  in  the  sentiments  and  practice  of  the  churches  through 
out  the  then  large  county  of  Hillsboro'. 

A  powerful  revival  followed  soon  after  the  settlement  of 
Dr.  Harris,  and  brought  most  of  the  principal  men  under  its 
power.  He  enjoyed  four  or  five  other  seasons  of  refreshing 
during  his  ministry.  The  feeble  church  of  his  early  labors 
in  his  later  days  became  marked  for  its  intelligent,  discrim 
inating  piety,  —  "  a  city  set  on  an  hill." 

The  following  are  some  of  the  features  of  his  character, 
set  forth  in  a  discourse  on  occasion  of  his  death.*  "  He  was 
an  instructive  preacher.  His  words  were  well  chosen  ; 


cious  power  of  the  Holy  Ghost.  That  the  saints  shall  persevere  in 
holiness,  and  be  kept  by  the  mighty  power  of  God.  through  faith,  unto 
eternal  salvation.  That  it  is  the  duty  of  professors  to  give  up  their 
infant  offspring  to  God  in  baptism.  That  none  but  those  who  can  give 
sufficient  evidence  that  they  are  born  again,  and  are  the  true  friends 
of  Christ,  ought  to  be  admitted  to  partake  of  the  Lord's  Supper.  That 
God  has  appointed  a  day,  in  the  which  he  will  judge  the  world  by 
Jesus  Christ ;  when  he  will  receive  the  righteous  into  life  eternal,  and 
send  away  the  wicked  into  everlasting  punishment." 

*  See  Commemorative  Discourse  before  Hopkinton  Association, 
•14  May.  1844,  by  Rev.  A.  Burnham,  Pembroke,  N.  H.  Also,  Hop. 
Mag.,  Vol.  IV.  p.  573.  Fun.  Sermon,  by  Rev.  E.  P.  Bradford,  New 
Boston,  N.  H.,  and  Fun.  Sermon,  by  Rev.  J.  M.  Putnam,  Dunbarton. 


REV.    REED    PAIGE.  235 

his  language,  remarkably  plain  ;  his  method,  natural  and 
lucid.  But  what  contributed  most  to  make  his  preaching  in 
structive,  was  the  prominence  he  gave  to  the  doctrines  of 
grace,  and,  the  happy  connection  he  maintained  between  doc 
trine  and  practice.  He  followed,  very  closely,  his  theological 
teacher's  method  of  sermonizing,  as  well  as,  entirely,  his  sys 
tem  of  theology.  He  was  a  plain,  direct,  experimental, 
searching  preacher.  The  Sabbath  after  his  ordination,  he 
specified  the  principal  doctrines  he  should  preach,  and  the 
course  he  should  follow  ;  and  then  added,  with  his  peculiar 
emphasis  :  '  These  doctrines  I  shall  preach,  and  this  course  I 
shall  pursue,  if  you  stone  me  out  of  the  pulpit.'  He  had  the 
faculty  and  the  disposition  to  tell  the  truth,  in  the  most  sin 
cere,  simple,  and  plain  manner.  The  doctrines  of  the  Gospel 
were  preached,  explained,  enforced,  and  repeated,  plainly 
and  fully,  till  they  were  understood,  not  only  by  the  church, 
but  speculatively  by  the  whole  society.  Hence  converts  had 
no  difficulty  in  deciding  what  are  the  truths  of  the  Bible. 
He  has  left  his  mark  deep  upon  the  people  who  enjoyed  his 
ministrations ;  and  so,  he  '  being  dead,  yet  speaketh.'  His 
published  discourses  were  fourteen,  all  occasional  sermons. 
Dr.  Harris's  first  wife  was  Jemima  Fisher,  daughter  of  Na 
thaniel  Fisher,  and  sister  of  the  late  Lewis  Fisher,  Esq.,  of 
Franklin,  by  whom  he  had  seven  children.  After  her  de 
cease,  he  married  the  widow  of  Rev.  John  Cleaveland,  of 
North  Wrentham.  And  his  third  and  last  wife  was  Mrs. 
Jane  Aiken,  relict  of  Mr.  James  Aiken. 


19.   REV.    REED    PAIGE 

Was  born  in  Hard  wick,  30  Aug.,  1764.  He  was  the  son 
of  Col.  Timothy  Paige.  He  was  graduated  at  Dartmouth 
Coll.,  1806,  and  A.  M.  in  course ;  studied  Theology  with  Rev. 
Dr.  Emmons,  and  was  ordained  the  first  minister  of  the  church 


236      BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

in  Hancock,  N.  H.,  21  Sept.,  1791,  where  he  continued  to 
labor  until  his  death,  22  July,  1816,  at  the  age  of  52. 

Mr.  Paige  married  Miss  Hannah  Paige  of  Bedford,  who 
survived  him,  and  by  whom  he  had  seven  children.  Six  of 
them  reached  maturity.  Their  residences  are  unusually  sep 
arated  from  each  other. 

Of  his  two  daughters  —  both  married  —  the  elder  lives  in 
Peterboro',  N.  H. ;  the  younger,  in  Oswego,  N.  Y.  His 
third  child,  and  oldest  son,  David  Paige,  settled  in  La  Port, 
Indiana.  The  second,  Timothy,  in  Detroit,  Mich.  George 
Reed  Paige  was  in  Illinois,  and  the  youngest,  William,  in 
St.  Louis. 

Rev.  Mr.  Paige  was  an  excellent  scholar.  He  was  esteemed 
by  his  brethren  in  the  ministry,  and  by  his  people,  as  a  man 
of  strong  mind  and  a  good  preacher.  He  was  highly  respect 
able  as  a  divine,  sound  in  religious  sentiment,  and  correct  in 
moral  practice.  It  is  enough  to  say  that  he  was  the  warm 
coadjutor  of  such  men  as  Dr.  Harris  of  Dunbarton,  and  Dr. 
Wood  of  Boscawen. 

In  the  latter  part  of  his  life,  Mr.  Paige  entered  deeply  in 
to  politics,  and  represented  the  town  of  Hancock,  in  the  State 
legislature,  for  seven  years,  from  1809  to  1814,  and  again  in 
1816.  He  died  while  in  the  office  of  Representative. 

His  publications  were  :  Ordination  Sermon  of  Rev.  Jabez 
P.  Fisher,  1796;  a  4th  of  July  Oration;  Election  Sermon, 
1805;  Fast  Sermon,  1812;  and  an  occasional  Sermon  at 
Lyndboro',  1815. 

20.    REV.    ELIAS    DUDLEY 

Was  born  in  Say  brook,  Ct.,  12  Aug.,  1761,  but  subse 
quently  removed,  with  his  parents,  to  Newport,  N.  H.*  He 

*  He  was  the  son  of  Daniel  and  Susanna  Dudley,  who  had  four 
children,  viz.:  Josiah,  Daniel,  Ellas,  and  John.  The  father  died  at  New 
port,  N.  H.,  1  Feb.,  1811,  aged  92.  The  mother  d.  6  Aug.,  1791.  aged 
67.  —  Rev.  H.  (Jumminqs,  Newport ,  N.  If. 


REV.    ELIAS   DUDLEY.  237 

graduated  at  Dartmouth,  1788,  and  A.  M.,  and  studied  The 
ology  with  Rev.  Dr.  Emmons.  He  was  ordained  the  third 
pastor  of  the  church  in  Oxford,  13  Apl.,  1791.  Dr.  Em 
mons  preached  the  sermon.  His  salary  was  £75,  with  a  set 
tlement  of  £150,  in  three  annual  instalments.  He  was  dis 
missed  at  his  own  request,  by  the  advice  of  physicians,  6 
March,  1799,  and  removed,  the  same  year,  to  Newburyport, 
where  he  went  into  business. 

While  here,  he  took  several  •  short  voyages,  in  a  fishing 
vessel,  to  Labrador,  for  the  benefit  of  his  health.  About  1805, 
he  removed,  with  his  family,  to  Prospect,  Me.,  where  he  died, 
25  Jan.,  1808,  of  consumption,  at  the  early  age  of  47  years. 

Mr.  Dudley  married,  22  Oct.,  1793,  Miss  Mary  Spring, 
daughter  of  John  Spring  of  Northbridge.  She  returned 
to  Uxbridge,  after  her  husband's  death,  and  there  died. 
They  had  three  children  while  living  in  Oxford,  and  four 
more  subsequently  —  three  sons  and  four  daughters,  viz. 

1.  Hannah,  b.  19  Nov.,  1794,  m.  Luther  Bullard,  of  Ux 
bridge,  and  died  7  June,  1845.     Their  son,  Charles  H.,  is  in 
the  ministry,  at  Rockville,  Ct. 

2.  .Otis,  b.  14  Nov.,  1796,  lives  at  Williantsburgh,  O.    Has 
5  children. 

3.  John  Spring,  b.  19  July,  1798,  and  d.  at  Millbury,  23 
Aug.,  1816. 

4.  Daughter,  died  in  infancy. 

5.  Elias,  lives  at  Cincinnati,  O. 

6.  Mary,  died  in  Uxbridge,  1  Aug.,  1837,  aet.  32. 

7.  Daughter,  died  young. 

Mr.  Dudley  is  represented  as  a  man  of  excellent  character, 
and  a  faithful  and  efficient  preacher  of  the  Gospel.  He  was 
much  interested  in  education  and  the  moral  culture  of  youth, 
and  acted  as  private  instructor  to  many  of  the  young,  who 
frequented  his  house.  His  talents  as  a  teacher  are  still 
spoken  of  by  his  surviving  pupils  with  great  interest  and 
high  commendation.  But  he  was  of  melancholic  tempera- 


238  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

ment,  and  subject  to  great  depression  of  spirits.  He  suffered 
much  under  an  impression  that  he  was  unfaithful  and  defi 
cient  in  his  duties  as  pastor  and  teacher  of  his  flock.  This 
feeling,  induced  by  his  continued  feebleness  of  health,  led 
him  repeatedly  to  ask  a  dismission  from  his  charge.  But  the 
real  opinion  of  his  fidelity,  entertained  by  the  church,  is  indi 
cated  by  their  repeated  refusals  to  grant  a  separation. 

It  is  related  of  him,  that,  during  the  last  year  of  his  minis 
try,  he  would  prepare  for  the  Sabbath,  and,  when  the  hour 
of  service  came,  his  depression  would  often  weigh  so  heavily 
upon  him,  as  to  compel  him  to  send  word  to  his  waiting  peo 
ple,  that  he  could  not  appear  before  them. 

Divine  service  was  generally  held  but  half  the  day,  to 
wards  the  close  of  his  labors.  Yet  the  people  declined  his 
repeated  requests  for  a  final  separation  ;  and  at  last,  consented 
on  the  representation  of  physicians,  to  refer  the  subject  to  a 
mutual  council.  So  highly  was  he  prized  as  their  pastor  by 
the  people  of  Oxford. 

His  communications  to  the  church  and  town,  are  the  best 
exponents  of  the  state  of  feeling  between  him  and  them.  As 
early  as  14  Sept.,  1798,  he  proposed  to  leave  the  desk  for 
them  to  hear  a  candidate,  and  offered  to  deduct  the  expense 
from  his  own  income.  On  a  renewal  of  the  proposition,  9 
Jan.,  1799,  a  committee  of  conference  was  chosen,  who  agreed 
to  concur  with  the  church  in  seeking  advice  about  his  dismis 
sion.  To  this  committee  he  says  :  —  "My  health  is  yet  ex 
tremely  low,  and  my  state,  I  think  precarious.  From  the 
nature  of  my  complaints,  being  very  much  upon  my  lungs,  I 
must  freely  own,  I  see  no  probability  of  being  able  to  preach. 
What  a  number  of  years  may  do  for  me,  should  I  be  contin 
ued  in  life,  is  unknown  to  us ;  but  I  think  it  must  be  several 
years,  should  I  do  as  well  as  can  be  expected,  before  I  can 
engage  in  public  speaking."* 

*  Letter  of  Mr.  G.  F.  Daniels,  Oxford. 


REV.    HERMAN     DAGGETT.  239 

The  council  which  advised  his  removal,  express  in  their 
result,  much  sympathy  for  him  in  his  affliction,  and  bear  tes 
timony  to  the  excellence  of  his  character  as  a  minister  of  the 
Gospel.* 

21.    REV.    HERMAN   DAGGETT 

Was  born  in  Wrentham,  3  Oct.,  1765.  He  was  the  son  of 
Ebenezer  Daggett,  M.  D.,  who  was  a  native  of  Attleboro', 
but  pursued  his  profession  in  Wrentham.  His  mother  was 
daughter  of  Timothy  Metcalf,  Esq.,  of  Wrentham.f 

He  graduated  at  Brown  University,  1788,  and  A.  M.,  and 
studied  theology  with  Rev.  Dr.  Emmons.  He  was  ordained 
at  Southampton,  Long  Island,  12  April,  1792,  and  dismissed 
in  1796:  when  he  removed  to  Westhampton,  where  he  was 
settled  in  1798,  and  dismissed  9  Sept.,  1801.  Thence  he  re 
moved  to  Middletown,  in  Brookhaven,  and  was  installed  20 
Oct.,  1801,  and  continued  until  20  April,  1807,  when  he  re 
moved  to  Ridgefield,  Ct.,  and  from  thence  to  Cornwall,  where 
he  established  and  became  principal  of  the  celebrated  Mission 
School.  He  remained  here  until  his  death,  19  May,  1832, 
leaving  a  widow,  but  no  children. 

Mr.  Daggett  possessed  a  peculiarly  even  temperament.  A 
gentleman  intimately  acquainted  with  him  on  Long  Island. 

*  Rev.  H.  Bardwcll,  Oxford. 

t  Doct.  Daggett  was  the  son  of  Ebenezer  and  Mary  (Blackinton) 
Dnggett.  of  Attleboro',  and  brother  of  Rev.  Naphtali  Daggett,  D.  D.,  for 
1 1  years  Prcs't  of  Yale  College,  and  prof,  of  Divinity  for  25  years. 

The  pilgrim  ancestor  of  this  family,  was  John  Daggett,  Watertown, 
1G42.  lie  removed  to  Martha's  Vineyard  with  Gov.  Mayhew,  1644. 
His  son  ( ?)  Thomas  Daggett,  married  Hannah,  eldest  daughter  of  Gov. 
Mayhew.  Their  son  John,  moved  from  Chilmark  to  Attleboro',  about 
1709,  and  had  9  children;  of  whom  Ebenezer  was  the  second.  He 
married  Mary  Blaekinton,  daughter  of  Pentecost  B.,  of  Attleboro',  and 
from  whom  came  in  the  second  generation,  Rev.  Herman  Daggett.  — 
Daggetfs Hist.  Attlebora. 


240      BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

relates, "  that  he  was  never  known  to  laugh,  although  of  a 
cheerful  and  happy  turn  of  mind;  to  smile  was  all  he  ever  did." 

His  style  of  composition  was  plain  and  direct ;  his  manner 
of  preaching  deliberate  and  solemn.  He  was  highly  appre 
ciated  while  in  the  ministry.* 

The  Cornwall  school  was  instituted  through  his  agency  in 
the  autumn  of  181 G,  and  opened  May,  1817.  Mr.  Daggett 
was  the  first  appointed  teacher,  but  being  unable  to  engage, 
Mr.  Edwin  W.  Dwight  took  his  place  for  a  time.  Mr.  Dag 
gett  commenced  the  supervision  of  the  school,  in  May,  1819. 
For  this  enterprise  he  was,  say  the  committee  in  one  of 
their  annual  reports,  "  peculiarly  qualified." 

Mr.  Daggett  published  a  sermon  on  "  the  character  and 
work  of  John  the  Baptist;"  delivered  at  Patterson,  N.  J., 
1813. 

22.   REV.    ROYAL    TYLER 

Was  born  in  Uxbridge,  24  May,  1770.  He  graduated  at 
Dartmouth,  1798,  and  studied  theology  with  Rev.  Dr.  Em- 
mons.  He  was  ordained  at  Andover,  Ct.,  July,  1792,  and 
dismissed  May,  1817.  Installed  over  the  church  in  Salem, 
Ct.,  in  1818,  and  dismissed  in  1824.  He  died  at  Salem.  Ct., 
10  April,  1826,  aged  56. 

Mr.  Tyler  married  Miss  Lyclia  Watson,  daughter  of 
Joseph  Watson,  of  Thompson,  Ct.,  by  whom  he  had  eight 
children,  namely : 

1.  Samuel  L.,  graduated  Brown  University,  1820  ;  taught 
academy  in  Florence,  Alabama,  and  died  there,  5  Oct.  1822. 

2.  Royal  W.,  a  farmer ;  resides  in  Salem,  Ct. 

3.  George  W.,  physician  in  Providence,  R.  I. 

4.  Nathan,   lawyer;  died   in   Meadville,    Pa.,   5  March. 
1833. 

5.  Abigail  W.,  married  to  Dr.  Alfred  Riggs,  Fourth   St., 
New  York. 

6.  Lydia,  died  young. 


REV.   HOLLO  WAY  FISH.  241 

7.  Benjamin    S.,  physician  in  Royalton,    Cuyahoga  Co., 
Ohio. 

8.  Gideon  W.,  merchant  in  Granger,  Medina  Co.,  Ohio. 
Mrs.  Tyler  died  August,  1835,  at  Ohio  City,  O. 

Mr.  Tyler's  ministry  was  marked  by  several  revivals  of 
religion.  But  of  his  character,  we  have  had  access  to  no 
materials  for  judgment. 

23.  MR..JOSIAH  IIOLBROOK 

Was  born  in  Wrentham,  19  January,  1765.  He  was  the 
third  son  of  Daniel  and  Esther  (Hall)  Holbrook.  He  grad. 
at  Brown  University,  1788,  and  A.  M. ;  and  studied  Theology 
with  Rev.  Dr.  Emmons.  He  went  to  the  South,  and  is 
believed  to  have  died  in  Beaufort,  S.  C.,  in  1796  or  7. 

It  is  not  known  that  he  was  ever  settled,  nor  have  any 
further  particulars  of  him  been  collected. 

24.  REV.   HOLLOWAY    FISH 

Was  the  son  of  Rev.  Elisha  Fish  of  Upton,  and  brother  of 
Rev.  Elisha  Fish,  jr.,  of  Gilsum,  N.  H.  He  graduated  at 
Dartmouth,  1790,  and  was  ordained  at  Marlboro',  N.  II.,  25 
Sept.,  1793,  where  he  died,  in  the  pastoral  office,  1  Sept., 
1824,  aged  62. 

Mr.  Fish  married  Miss  Hannah  Harrington,  of  West- 
borough.  They  had  no  children.  An  adopted  son  of  theirs, 
Mr.  Holloway  Brigham,  still  lives  in  Westborough. 

Mr.  Fish  enjoyed  two  seasons  of  revival  amongst  his  peo 
ple,  and  129, were  added  to  the  church  by  profession,  and  45 
by  letter,  during  his  ministry. 

He  is  represented  as  a  man  of  sound  judgment,  a  faithful 
pastor,  and  a  decided  Hopkinsian  in  his  theological  views. 
His  influence  was  of  great  worth  in  withstanding  and  arrest 
ing  the  tendency  towards  Arminianism  in  his  vicinity.  He 

21 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES. 


preached  the  doctrines   of  Divine  sovereignty  with  great 
boldness  and  plainness.  And  though  not  a  popular  preacher, 
his  voice  being  indistinct  to  strangers,  he  was  an  eminently 
useful  minister  of  the  Gospel.* 
His  epitaph  is  as  follows  :  — 

M  E  M  E  N  T  0    M  0  R  I  T  U  It  U  S  . 

IN   MEMORY    OF 

REV.  HOLLO  WAY    FISH, 

Who  died  Sept.  1,  1824,  IE.  62. 

HE  WAS  GRADUATED  FROM  DARTMOUTH  COLLEGE,  1790; 

Ordained  in  Marlboro',  Sept.  25,  1793; 

A>TD   THIRTY   YEARS   THE   BELOVED   PASTOU   OF 

The  Church  and  Society. 

HE  DIED  PRAYING  FOR  HIS  PEOPLE.  f 

25.   REV.   JOHN   MOUSE 

Was  the  second  son  of  Dea.  James  and  Hannah  (Daniels) 
Morse,  of  East  Medway,  where  he  was  born,  20  Nov., 
1763.J 

Mr.  Morse  became  personally  interested  in  religion  under 
the  preaching  of  Rev.  John  Leland,  of  Peru.  He  graduated 
at  Brown  University,  1791,  and  studied  theology  with  Rev. 
Dr.  Emmons  and  Rev.  David  Sanford  of  West  Medway. 
He  went  to  the  then  "  far  West,"  and  was  soon  ordained,  in 
1792,  over  the  Congregational  Church  in  Green  River, 
N.  Y.  He  continued  the  pastor  of  this  flock  for  23  years. 

*  Letter  of  Kev.  L.  Wiswall,  Me. 

t  Letter  of  Rev.  G.  Lyman.  Marlboro',  N.  II. 

J  Dea.  James  Morse,  the  father  of  Rev.  John  Morse,  was  the  eighth 
child  of  Henry  and  Sarah  Morse,  who  was  the  son  of  Joseph  and 
Prudence  (Adams)  Morse,  who  was  the  son  of  Capt.  Joseph,  jr.,  the 
son  of  Joseph,  who  was  the  son  of  Samuel  Morse,  born  in  England, 
1558,  and  appears  in  Dedham,  1635,  and  who  died  at  Medfield,  5  April, 
1654.  —  Book  of  the  Morses. 


REV.    JOHN    MORSE.  243 

In    1816,  he  removed  to  Otego,  N.  Y.,  and  was  installed 
pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  where  he  remained  for- 
1 2  years.    The  last  sermon  he  preached  was  on  the  occasion 
of  the  death  of  President  Harrison.     He  died  3  Jan.,  1844, 
aged  80  years  ;  over  50  of  which  he  spent  in  the  ministry. 

Mr.  Morse  married  Clarissa  Sanford,  daughter  of  Rev.  D. 
Sanford,  of  Medway,  4  Feb.,  1793.  They  had  two  children: 

1.  David  Sanford,  born  22  Dec.,  1793;  Rev.  and  settled 
in  Richford,  N.  Y.     He  married  Miss  Margaret  Vandyke. 

2.  Clarissa,  born  4  May,  1796,  and  married  to  Isaac  Fair- 
man,  of  Medina,  Orleans  Co.,  N.  Y. 

Mrs.  Morse  died  at  Pompey  Hill,  N.  Y.,  15  March,  U850. 
It  is  said  of  Mr.  Morse  that  he  took  a  very  prominent  and 
active  part  in  the  extensive  revivals  in  1785,  in  and  around 
his  native  place ;  holding  conference  meetings  in  Holliston, 
and  in  West  Medway,  in  different  neighborhoods.  The 
influence  of  these  meetings  went  far  towards  deciding  the 
character  of  the  churches  in  those  two  communities,  especially 
when  the  popular  movement  was  opposed  to  a  pure  Gospel. 
This  revival  also  fixed  his  purpose  to  become  a  preacher  of 
righteousness. 

;'  Soon  after  his  settlement  at  Green  River,  a  powerful 
revival  of  religion  followed  his  ministry,  during  the  whole  of 
which  the  church  continued  remarkably  united  in  him. 

"  His  theology  was  sound,  and  of  the  New  England  stamp, 
which  enabled  him,  during  the  prevalence  of  the  '  new 
measures '  in  central  New  York,  to  see  the  rock  upon  which 
the  churches  were  driving. 

"  He  loved  and  preached  the  distinguishing  doctrines  of 
grace  which  supported  him  in  his  last  sickness  and  death. 
During  his  short  illness  of  four  days,  he  enjoyed  his  mental 
faculties  in  a  remarkable  degree.  Not  a  cloud  was  over  his 
mind  to  darken  his  prospects  beyond  the  grave."* 


See  Book  of  the  Morses. 


244  BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES. 

26.   REV.    SAMUEL   JUDSON. 

[See  Sketches  of  Members,  No.  22.] 

27.   REV.    NATHANIEL    HALL 

Was  born  in  Sutton,  9  April,  1764,  and  was  the  son  of 
Dea.  Willis  Hall*  and  Anna  (Cage)  Hall.  His  mother  was 
the  daughter  of  William  and  Anna  Cage,  of  Grafton  and 
Warren,  formerly  of  Scotland. 

Mr.  Hall  graduated  at  Dartmouth,  1790,  and  A.  M.,  and 
studied  divinity  with  Rev.  Dr.  Emmons.  He  was  ordained 
over  the  Congregational  Church  in  Granville,  N.  Y.,  3  Oct., 
1797,  and  continued  its  pastor  until  his  death, —  by  a  can 
cerous  tumor,  31  July,  1820,  at  the  age  of  56. 

His  gravestone  bears  the  following  inscription  :  — 

A  SPIRITUAL,  COMPANION, 

An  able  Pastor,  a  faithful,  instructive  Preacher,  a  consistent, 

PENETRATING    DIVINE. 

His  influence  in  this  region  was  precious. 
The  intelligent  Christian  who  knew  him  best, 

WILL   REVERE   HIM    MOST. 

The  plan  of  Grace  which  he  loved  and  defended, 

SUPPORTED    HIM    IN    DEATH. 

Mr.  Hall  married,  22  Jan.,  1798,  Hannah  Emerson, 
daughter  of  Dea.  Daniel  Emerson,  of  Hollis^  N.  IL,  and 

=#  He  was  descended  from  Capt.  John  Hall,  of  Medford,  formerly  of 
Concord  and  of  Charlestown,  who  married  Elizabeth  Green,  2  April, 
1656.  and  who  was  the  son  of  Widow  Mary  Hall,  of  Charlestown.  His 
son,  Dea.  Percival  Hall,  born  1672,  and  married  Jane  Willis,  migrated 
to  Sutton,  and  was  the  father  of  Dea.  Willis  Hall,  above  mentioned.  — 
Rev.  D.  B.  Hall,  Cleveland,  N.  Y. 


REV.    NATHANIEL   HALL.  246 

sister  of  Rev.  Joseph  Emerson.    (Licentiates,  No.  40.)    She 
was  born  7  Dec.,  1773,  and  died  22  May,  1832. 
They  had  nine  children,  seven  of  whom  are  still  living : 

1.  Hannah  Emerson ;  born  9  Nov.,    1798,  and  married 
Aug.,  1823,  to  Rev.  Abijah  Crane,  for  fifteen  years  Central 
Agent  of  the  American  Home  Missionary  Society.    He  died 
at  Clinton,  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y.,  14  May,  1847.    His  wife  died 
at  Clinton,  12  June,  1846. 

Their  son,  Edwin  H.  Crane,  graduated  Hamilton  College, 
1844,  and  Auburn,  1851 ;  married  Ann  Eliza  Cowles,  of 
Otisco,  Onondaga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  embarked,  31  May,  1852, 
as  Missionary  to  Nestoria.  A  second  son,  Lewis  H.  de  Loss 
Crane,  graduated  Hamilton  College,  1845,  and  is  now  a 
lawyer  in  Selden,  L.  I. 

2.  Willis,  born  1  April,  1801 ;  graduated  at  Yale  College, 
1824,  and  studied  law.     He  settled  in  New  York  City,  re 
presented  the   City  and  County  of  New  York  in  the  State 
Legislature  of  1838.     In  1839,  appointed  Attorney-General 
of  the    State.     Representative  for  the  City  and  County  of 
Albany  in  1842.     In  1847,  was  Councillor  to  the  Board  of 
Aldermen  of  New  York   City.     He  married  Mrs.   Helen 
Haudley. 

3.  Nathanael  Emmons,  dentist  in  Middle  Granville,  N.  Y. ; 
married  Miss  Mary  Fell,  of  Bloomington,  111. 

4.  Eliza,  resides  in  Middle  Granville,  N.  Y. 

,5.  Richard  Baxter,  was  a  portrait-painter ;  now  a  physician 
in  Sacramento  City,  Cal. 

6.  J)aniel  Emerson,  born  9  May,  1810  ;  graduated  at  Yale, 
1834 ;  lawyer   in    Mobile,  Ala.     He  married  Delphine  E. 
Kennedy,  13  Jan.,  1840,  and  died  24  April,  1852. 

7.  David  Brainerd,  graduated  at  Union  College,  1839,  and 
at  Princeton  Theo.  Seminary.     Is  now  settled  at  Cleave- 
land,  Oswego  Co.,  N.  Y. 

8.  Mary,  resides  at  Middle  Granville. 

9.  Edwards,  graduated  at  Hamilton  College,  1840 ;  phy- 

21* 


246      BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

sician  in  New  York  City.  He  married  Maria  M.  Chambers, 
of  Trenton,  N.  J.* 

"  As  a  preacher,  Mr.  Hall  was  always  interesting  to  those 
who  hear  for  instruction.  His  discourses  contained  the  sin 
cere  milk  of  the  Word.  His  discernment  of  defects  in  the 
matter  or  method  of  a  sermon  was  singularly  acute.  This 
rendered  him  particularly  useful  in  ministerial  circles,  and  to 
theological  students.  His  gifts  and  influence  in  our  churches 
as  a  religious  instructor,  an  able  councillor,  and  faithful 
disciplinarian,  were  such  as  we  know  not  how  to  spare. 

"  His  discernment  of  moral  truth,  and  his  ability  to  inves 
tigate  and  defend  its  principles,  were  distinguishing.  Loose 
and  unsystematic  notions  in  divinity  and  moral  science,  rarely 
escaped  his  observation, 

"  He  saw  with  clearness,  the  first  leadings  of  error,  in 
principle  or  practice,  and  opposed  them  with  candor  and 
firmness. 

"  It  was  the  habitual  object  of  his  zeal  and  effort  to  instruct 
his  hearers  in  the  doctrines  of  grace,  —  to  convince  them  of 
those  self-denying  truths  which  stain  the  pride  of  all  flesh. 

"His  discourses  were  serious  and  practical.  Practical 
improvement  was  the  moral  and  literal  end  of  every  sermon. 
And  God  was  pleased  to  crown  his  labors  with  many  precious 
fruits.  These  consisted  in  the  enlightening  and  restraining 
power  of  Gospel  truth  on  his  hearers  generally,  and  in  the 
conversion  of  many  souls. 

"  In  the  course  of  his  ministry,  he  enjoyed  three  special 
revivals  among  his  people.  In  1800,  when  the  church  re 
ceived  45  hopeful  converts.  In  1814,  77  were  added  to  the 
church.  In  1816,  45  were  added.  The  whole  number  re 
ceived  during  his  ministry  was  255. 

"  Days  of  religious  harvest  appeared  to  be  particular  sea- 

*  Letter  of  Rev.  D.  B.  Hall,  Cleaveland,  N.  Y. 


REV.    JOHN   FITCH.  247 

sons  of  his  enjoyment ;  and  his  skill  in  divinity  rendered  him 
a  consistent  and  very  useful  guide  to  inquiring  souls. 

"  He  was  the  warm  friend  of  Bible,  Missionary  and  Educa 
tion  Societies.  He  was  also  a  companionable  and  interesting 
friend,  and  his  house  was  always  the  mansion  of  unaffected 
hospitality."* 

Mr.  Hall's  only  publication  is  a  sermon  preached  before 
the  Evangelical  Society,  in  Poultney,  Vt.,  at  their  annual 
meeting,  22  Nov.,  1815. 

28.   REV.    JOHN   FITCH 

Was  the  oldest  son  of  Rev.  Elijah  Fitch,  of  Hopkinton, 
where  he  was  born  in  1770.  He  graduated  at  Brown  Uni 
versity,  1790,  and  studied  theology  with  Rev.  Dr.  Emmons. 

In  1793,  July  29,  he  was  invited  to  settle  in  Danville,  Vt., 
where  he  was  ordained  the  first  pastor,  30  Oct.,  1793,  in  a 
grove  of  maples,  at  the  base  of  a  circular  valley.  His  salary 
was  two  hundred  dollars,  paid  in  produce. 

After  laboring  twenty-three  years,  he  was  dismissed,  1 
Oct.,  1810,  on  account  of  feeble  health,  and  took  a  journey 
to  the  West.  In  about  two  years  he  returned,  resigned  the 
office  of  the  ministry,  and  removed  to  Guildhall,  Vt.,  where 
he  died,  18  Dec.,  1827,  aged  57. 

The  interval  after  his  return,  was  partly  spent  as  teacher 
at  Thetford,  and  at  Guildhall. 

Mr.  Fitch  married,  first,  Miss  Sally  Magoon,  of  Danville, 
by  whom  he  had  one  daughter :  Hannah,  who  was  married 
to  Dea.  Asa  Sargent,  of  the  same  place.  Mr.  Fitch's  second 
wife  was  Mrs.  Lydia  Farmer,  sister  to  Mr.  Jeduthun  Loom- 
is,  of  Montpelier,  Vt. :  by  whom  he  also  had  one  daughter, 
Nancy  Jane. 

*  Obituary  in  Boston  Recorder,  by  Rev.  W.  Jackson.  D.  D.,  Dorset, 
Vermont. 


248     BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

She  became  the  wife  of  a  Mr.  Elkin,  formerly  professor 
in  Mandaville  College,  but  now  resident  in  New  Orleans. 

Mr.  Fitch  wrote  largely  for  "  The  Adviser,"  published  at 
Middlebury,  Vt.,  and  issued  several  sermons ;  among  them 
was  an  Election  Sermon,  before  the  State  Legislature,  at 
Danville,  1805. 

The  church  of  Danville  at  its  organization,  9  Aug.,  1792, 
embraced  twenty  members.  During  Mr.  Fitch's  ministry, 
sixty-five  were  added. 

He  stood  high  in  the  estimation  of  his  people  up  to  the 
time  of  his  dismission,  and  though  no  marked  revivals  of 
religion  occurred,  he  was  regarded  at  large,  as  an  able  and 
faithful  minister.  He  was  a  strong  writer,  but  not  an  elo 
quent  speaker ;  yet  he  possessed  a  considerable  degree  of  free 
dom,  coupled  with  moderation.* 

29.    REV.    ELI    SMITH 

Was  born  in  Belchertown,  17  Sept.,  1759,  and  was  the  son 
of  Joseph  Smith-t  His  early  life  was  spent  on  a  farm,  and 


*  Hist.  Sermon,  of  Danville,  Vt,  by  Rev.  J.  Dudley,  pastor. 

t  His  earliest  American  Ancestor  was  Joseph  Smith  ;  who  removed 
from  Hartford,  Ct.,  to  Hadley,  1680,  and  had  four  sons.  The  second 
son,  John,  b.  1686,  settled  in  Hadley,  and  d.  1777,  aged  91.  He  had 
live  sons  and  five  daughters  :  viz.  John,  Abner.  (father  of  Rev.  Abner,  of 
Derby,  Ct. ;)  Daniel,  Joseph,  and  Elijah. 

Joseph,  just  mentioned,  was  the  father  of  Rev.  Eli,  above,  also  of 
Rev.  Amasa,  and  Rev.  John,  D.  D..  of  Bangor  :  (Licentiate  No.  33.) 

It  may  be  added,  that  Elijah,  the  youngest  son,  had  nine  children. 
Among  them  were  ;  1.  Asa,  father  of  Rev.  Asa,  of  Virginia,  and  of  Rev. 
Theophilus,  of  New  Canaan,  Ct, ;  2.  Sarah,  wife  of  Elijah  Bardwell,  of 
Goshen.  and  mother  of  Rev.  Horatio  B.,  of  Oxford,  and  of  Sarah,  wife 
of  Rev.  Wm.  Richards,  of  the  India  Mission :  3.  Rev.  Ethan,  of  Boyls- 
ton ;  4.  Dea.  Jacob,  father  of  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Rev.  Wm.  Hervey,  of 
the  India  Mission,  of  Esther,  wife  of  Rev.  Mr.  D  unbar,  of  the  Pawnee 
Mission,  of  Martha,  wife  of  Rev.  O.  G.  Hubbard,  of  Lcominster,  and 
of  Miranda,  wife  of  Rev.  P.  Belden,  of  E.  Amherst.  —  Geneal  Regis 
ter,  Vol.  I.  p.  183. 


REV.    ELI    SMITH.  249 

it  was  not  until  1787,  some  time  after  the  death  of  his  first 
wife,  at  Sunderland,  that  he  commenced  his  course  of  edu 
cation.  He  graduated  at  Brown  University,  1 792,  and  A.  M., 
at  the  age  of  thirty-three,  and  studied  theology  with  Rev.  Dr. 
Emmons.  Pie  was  ordained  as  colleague  pastor  at  Hollis, 
N.  H.,  27  Nov.,  1793.  He  labored  with  fidelity  and  success 
for  thirty-seven  years,  and  was  dismissed  in  1831.  After 
this  date,  he  preached  one  year  in  Greenfield,  N.  H.,  one 
year  in  Montague,  one  year  in  Marshfield,  and  shorter  periods 
in  other  places.  He  died  11  May,  1847,  aged  87  years  and  8 
months. 

Mr.  Smith  married,  first,  Miss  Catharine  Sheldon,  of  North 
ampton,  by  whom  he  had  one  son.  His  second  wife,  was 
Miss  Ama  Emerson,  of  Hollis,  daughter  of  Dea.  Daniel 
Emerson,  and  sister  of  Rev.  Joseph  Emerson,  (Licentiate 
No.  40).  By  this  marriage  he  had  five  children.  His  fam 
ily  were : 

1.  Eli.     He  formed  the  first  church  in  Frankfort,  Ky.,  of 
which  he  was  pastor  ten  years.     He  was  then  ten  years  pastor 
of  the  church  in  Paris,  Ky.     He  died  at  Frankfort,  Ky. 

2.  Ama :  m.  Rev.  Noah  Emerson. 

3.  Luther,  teacher  in  West  Liberty,  O. 

4.  Hannah  C.,  m.  Rev.  Darwin  Adams,  now  of  Dunstable, 
Mass. 

5.  Joseph  E.,  lives  in  Hollis,  N.  H. 

6.  John  R.,  physician  in  Lexington,  Ky. 

Mr.  Smith's  ministry  in  Hollis  was  signally  blessed.  The 
first  great  revival  among  his  people  began  in  1801,  and  con 
tinued  over  a  year.  It  was  preceded  for  three  or  four  years, 
by  an  uncommon  degree  of  religious  feeling.  As  its  fruits, 
one  hundred  and  forty-two,  mostly  heads  of  families,  united 
with  the  church.  This  was  one  of  the  first  revivals  of  the 
present  century.  During  his  pastorate,  between  400  and  500 
were  added  to  the  church. 


250     BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

He  was  also  an  early  and  fast  friend  to  missions,  and  once 
left  his  people,  as  a  home  missionary  for  a  short  time. 

His  prominent  features  of  character,  as  gathered  from  his 
funeral  sermon,  by  Rev.  R.  Emerson,  Andover,  were,  an  ar 
dent  temperament,  and  quick  mental  activity,  which  gave 
peculiar  point  and  power  to  his  extempore  efforts  ;  an  invin 
cible  firmness,  manifested  in  his  boldness  and  distinctness  in 
preaching  the  humbling  truths  of  grace.  He  was  a  revival 
preacher,  in  the  best  sense  of  the  term,  plain,  pungent,  prac 
tical. 

His  late  education  prevented  his  being  a  learned  theolo 
gian.  Yet  he  was  a  diligent  student,  rising  usually  at  four 
o'clock  in  the  morning,  and  spending  much  of  his  time  in 
secret  devotions. 

The  system  of  Christian  doctrine  taught  by  his  revered 
preceptor,  Dr.  Emmons,  he  embraced  in  all  its  strictness,  and 
with  all  his  heart,  and  taught  with  all  his  power. 

He  published  but  two  or  three  sermons.  An  ordination 
sermon,  of  Rev.  Stephen  Farley,  and  a  Fast  sermon,  are 
known  to  exist. 

30.    REV.    WILLIAM   JACKSON,  D.    D. 

Of  his  ancestry  little  is  known,  except  that  his  paternal 
great  grandfather  lived  and  died  in  Norwalk,  Ct. ;  and  that 
piety  distinguished  his  progenitors  and  their  families  for  sev 
eral  generations. 

His  grandfather,  Ebenezer  Jackson,  removed  to  Sharon, 
Ct.  and  was  deacon  in  the  church,  and  died  in  triumph,  saying, 
•  Welcome,  Welcome,  I  am  ready.' 

His  father,  Abraham  Jackson,  married  Eleanor  Bumpas, 
of  Wareham,  and  settled  in  Cornwall,  Ct.,  where  the  subject 
of  this  notice  was  born,  14  Dec.,  1768. 

Mr.  Jackson  was  the  youngest  of  five  sons,  and  the  tenth  of 


REV.    W  I  L  L  I  A  M   J  A  C  K  S  0  N  ,  D  .    D  .        251 

eleven  children,  all  of  whom  live'd  to  be  married  and  become 
parents.  When  he  was  but  three  years  of  age,  the  father 
migrated  with  his  numerous  family,  to  Wallingford,  Vt.,  in 
which  town  they  were  the  first,  and  for  several  months  the 
only  settlers.  Here  amidst  the  severe  toils,  simple  habits, 
and  scanty  means  of  culture,  incident  to  a  new  settlement, 
his  early  life  was  spent.  At  sixteen  he  became  a  subject  of 
grace. 

He  fitted  for  college  at  Norwich,  Vt.,  and  at  Moore's 
charity  school,  Hanover,  N.  H.,  graduated  at  Dartmouth 
College,  1790,  and  A.  M.  He  received  a  Doctorate  from 
Middlebury  College. 

After  graduation,  he  taught  a  female  select  school  at 
Wethersfield,  Ct.,  for  a  season,  and  then  studied  Theology 
for  one  year  with  Rev.  Dr.  Samuel  Spring,  of  Newburyport, 
and  completed  his  course  with  Rev.  Dr.  Emmons.  He 
immediately  commenced  preaching,  at  Dorset,  Vt.,  but  de 
clined  an  invitation  to  continue  there,  on  account  of  his 
health,  and  journeyed  south  and  preached,  for  a  season,  in 
New  Jersey.  After  three  years,  he  returned  ;  and,  on  a  re 
newal  of  their  invitation,  was  settled  over  the  church  in  Dor 
set  and  East  Rupert,  Vt.,  27  Sept.,  1796.  He  labored  here 
until  1837,  when  his  health,  always  feeble,  induced  him  to 
accept  a  colleague.  Rev.  Ezra  Jones,  formerly  of  Greenfield, 
N.  H.,  was  settled  in  this  relation,  12  Dec.,  1838.  He  was 
dismissed,  28  Oct.,  1841,  and  Mr.  Jackson  remained  sole 
pastor  of  the  church  until  his  death,  15  Oct.,  1842,  in  his 
74th  year,  having  been  settled  46  years. 

Dr.  Jackson  married,  3  Nov.,  1796,  Miss  Susanna  Cram, 
of  Brentwood,  N.  H.,  who  survived  him.  They  had  seven 
children  ;  two  of  whom  died  young. 

1.  Samuel  C.,  grad.  Middlebury  Col.,  1821,  settled  at  An- 
dover.  He  is  now  Assistant  Sec.  of  the  Mass.  Board  of  Edu 
cation. 


252      BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

2.  Margaret   Graves,  m.  to  Rev.  John  Maltby,  Bangor, 
and  died  in  1851. 

3.  Susan,  lives  unmarried  at  Dorset. 

4.  Elizabeth  Rogers,  wife  of  Rev.  Nathaniel  Beach,  of 
Milbury. 

5.  Henrietta  Anna  Lorain,    m.  to  Rev.  Cyrus  Hamlin, 
Miss,  at  Constantinople.      She  died  at  Rhodes,  14  Nov., 
1850.* 

Dr.  Jackson's  bodily  constitution  was  naturally  frail,  and 
subjected  him  to  frequent  and  severe  indisposition ;  yet  he 
accomplished  much  as  a  builder  in  the  temple  of  the  Lord  of 
Hosts.  His  most  striking  feature  was  that  of  deep  solemnity 
when  exhibiting  the  truths  of  God. 

One  intimately  acquainted  with  him,  says  :  "  He  had  strik 
ing  and  uncommon  powers  in  the  pulpit.  His  sermons  were 
solid  and  effective.  His  preaching,  as  a  whole,  was  biblical, 
instructive.  His  manner  was  characterized  by  a  natural  dig 
nity  and  an  urgent,  solemn  earnestness.  His  whole  appear 
ance,  in  the  pulpit,  indicated  a  holy  sincerity  —  that  he  spoke 
according  to  his  own  deep  convictions." 

His  sermons  were  not  usually  fully  written,  but  left  with 
hints  for  amplification  in  the  delivery.  Said  one  of  his  aged 
parishioners :  '  I  never  wish  to  hear  any  greater  eloquence 
than  comes  from  my  minister,  when  he  gets  through  his  notes 
and  shuts  up  his  Bible.'  It  was  then,  that,  having  gained 
the  convictions  of  his  hearers,  he  pressed  truth  upon  their 
consciences  in  fervid,  forcible,  and  solemn  appeals  and  ex 
postulations,  which  often  rose  to  the  highest  order  of  pulpit 
eloquence. 

The  solemnity  which  uniformly  characterized  him  in  the 
pulpit,  is  the  more  noticeable  as  he  was  rather  distinguished 
for  a  keen  and  ready  wit,  and  for  shrewd,  pointed,  and  laco- 

*  See  Obit,  in  Miss.  Herald,  March,  1851. 


REV.     KIAH    BAYLEY.  253 

nic  sayings.  But  nothing  of  this  ever  found  a  place  in  his 
preaching.  Through  his  whole  public  life  he  was  never 
known  to  appear  depressed,  discouraged,  or  troubled. 

He  was  a  correct  and  thorough  scholar  in  the  ancient 
classics  ;  and  with  some  of  them  so  familiar  as  to  repeat 
large  portions  from  memory.  He  was  a  warm  friend  to  edu 
cation,  and  one  of  the  founders  of  Middlebury  College,  of 
which  he  was  the  first  elected  member  corporate. 

He  originated  and  set  in  operation  the  first  Education 
Society  in  the  country  for  replenishing  the  ministry.  This 
was  in  1803,  and  was  termed  the  Evangelical  Society  "to 
aid  pious  and  needy  young  men  in  acquiring  education  for 
the  work  of  the  Gospel  ministry."  *  He  was  its  first  presi 
dent,  and  voluntarily  undertook  an  agency  for  collecting  its 
first  funds ;  and  was,  throughout,  its  most  efficient  helper. 

As  a  specimen  of  Dr.  Jackson's  unceasing  earnestness  in 
the  work  of  the  Gospel :  after  the  settlement  of  his  colleague, 
he  became  a  teacher  in  the  Sabbath  School,  as  punctual  and 
engaged  as  in  the  public  ministry.  Such  devotedness  re 
ceived  the  blessing  of  frequent  and  powerful  revivals  of 
religion  amongst  his  people.f 

31.    REV.  KIAH   BAYLEY 

Was  born  in  Brookfield,  West  Parish,  11  March,  1770, 
and  was  the  son  of  Charles  and  Abigail  (  Safford  )  Bayley. 
He  spent  his  early  life  at  Haverhill,  N.  H.,  "  Indians  and 

*  The  first  meeting,  for  organization,  was  held  at  Pawlet,  6  March, 
1804.  The  first  regular  meeting  was  held  at  Dorset,  on  the  last  Tues 
day  of  June,  1804,  at  which  Rev.  Nathaniel  Hall,  of  Granville,  preached 
the  opening  sermon.  Its  plan  was  to  aid  suitable  candidates  for  the 
ministry  by  loans,  without  interest,  for  not  more  than  six  years.  The 
Evangelical  Society  continued,  until  superseded  by  the  Am.  Education 
Society  and  its  Auxiliaries.  More  than  fifty  persons  were,  by  it,  helped 
into  the  ministry. 

t  Funeral  Sermon  by  Kev.  J.  D.  Winkham,  of  Burr  Seminary. 
22 


254  BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES. 

old  tories  around,  frequently  running  for  dear  life  —  moth 
er,  baby  and  all."  * 

He  graduated  at  Dartmouth,  1793,  and  studied  theology 
with  Rev  Dr.  Emmons.  He  indulged  a  hope,  during  vaca 
tion,  1790,  in  his  father's  barn  at  Newbury,  Vt.  His  first 
sermon  was  preached  at  West  Taunton.  He  afterwards 
preached  and  received  calls  from  Milford,  and  Ashby,  and 
from  Cornish,  N.  H.  In  1796,  he  visited  Maine,  preached 
six  months  at  Newcastle,  Me.,  and  was  settled  there  in 
Oct.,  1797. 

The  church  at  Newcastle  was  virtually  extinct,  —  only 
three  male  members  being  alive  on  the  list.  There  had  been 
no  preaching  for  ten  or  twelve  years,  and  the  forms  of  re 
ligion  had  nearly  disappeared.  The  church  was  reestablished 
by  his  labor,  and  the  "  foundations  of  many  generations  " 
were  laid. 

He  was  dismissed  at  his  own  request,  Sept.,  1823.  He 
preached  at  Greensboro',  Vt.,  the  four  years  following. 
Thence  he  went  to  Thornton,  N.  H.,  30  May,  1829,  and  staid 
three  years.  He  commenced  preaching  at  Hardwick,  Vt., 
29  June,  1833,  where  he  also  purchased  a  farm  on  which  he 
still  lives  at  the  advanced  age  of  82,  the  oldest  living  licentiate 
of  this  association. 

Mr.  Bayley  has  published  ;  a  sermon,  Salvation  by  Grace, 
Ashby,  1796  ;  the  Preciousness  of  Christ,  12mo. ;  eight  or 
ten  ordination  and  occasional  sermons ;  and  over  three 
hundred  articles  on  Anti-Masonry  and  Ant^-Slavery.  He 
was  for  three  years,  co-editor  of  the  Christian  Magazine, 
published  in  Maine. 

Mr.  Bayley,  in  company  with  some  six  other  ministers  of 
the  Kennebec  valley,  most  of  whose  names  appear  in  this 
list,  ardently  labored  together  to  plant  the  germs  of  Gospel 
institutions  in  the  then  District  of  Maine.  He  says  —  "  they 

*  Letter  of  Rev.  K.  Bayley,  East  Hardwick,  Vt. 


REV.    ACIJAII    WINES.  255 

were  united,  and  tried  to  lay  such  foundations  as  would  abide. 
They  published  a  Christian  Magazine  —  formed  a  Tract 
Society,  a  Missionary  Society  for  Maine  —  an  Education 
Society,  and  the  Theological  Institute  at  Bangor,  —  and 
were  in  the  field  as  early  as  older  churches.  —  How  God 
blessed,  results  must  show.  —  I  claim  the  Academy  at  New 
Castle,  and  the  Theol.  School  at  Bangor,  as  my  own  children. 
Not  that  others  did  not  help,  —  but  on  me  the  burden  of  lay 
ing  plans  and  executing  them  without  funds,  for  five  or  six 
years,  rested."* 

Mr.  Bayley  married,  in  1794,  Miss  Abigial  Goodhue,  of 
Newburyport.  She  died  18  March,  1846,  aged  90  yrs.  She 
was  a  woman  of  uncommon  excellence,  and  left  the  impress 
of  her  active  piety  upon  the  religious  institutions  of  the 
State  of  Maine.f  They  have  no  living  descendants. 

32.    REV.    ABIJAH   WINES, 

The  oldest  child  of  Abijah  and  Deborah  (Runnels)  Wines, 
was  born  in  Southold,  L.  L,  28  May,  1766.} 

At  about  fifteen  years  of  age,  he  removed  with  his  parents 
to  Newport,  N.  H.  He  married  at  twenty  years  of  age,  and 
settled  down  with  his  wife  and  children  to  live  ;  but  the  Lord 
had  other  work  for  him,  and  he  was  awakened  and  converted 

*  Bangor  Seminary,  to  which  Maine  owes  two  thirds  of  her  ministers, 
besides  many  in  other  states,  originated  in  a  female  Cent  Society  pro 
posed  by  the  wife  of  Mr.  Baylev.  It  is  an  interesting  fact  that  its  three 
Theological  Professors  —  Smith,  Wines,  and  Pond  —  were  licentiates 
of  Mendon  Association  and  students  of  Rev.  Dr.  Emmons.  Prof.  B. 
Fowler  was  also  a  student  of  Dr.  Emmons. 

t  See  her  Memoir  by  Mass.  S.  S.  Society ;  also,  Prof.  Park's  Me 
moir  of  Dr.  Hopkins,  in  his  Works,  Vol.  I,  p.  95. 

I  His  ancestry  was  Welsh,  and  settled  on  Long  Island.  His  father 
removed  to  Newport,  N.  H.,  in  1 780,  with  four  children,  —  Abijah, 
Samuel,  William,  and  Abigail. 


256  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

to  his  Redeemer.  He  immediately  set  himself  to  the  work 
of  fitting  for  college  under  a  neighboring  clergyman,  and 
entered  Sophomore  at  Dartmouth  College,  1792,  and  grad. 
in  1794,  aged  28.  He  studied  theology  with  Rev.  Dr.  Em- 
mons,  and  was  ordained,  5  Jan.,  1796,  at  Newport,  N.  H.,  the 
place  of  his  early  residence. 

After  laboring  20  years,  he  was  dismissed,  with  great 
reluctance  on  the  part  of  his  people,  4  Dec.,  1816.  He  next 
went  to  Ohio,  to  found,  if  possible,  a  Theological  School  in 
that  then  newly-settled  region.  But  failing  in  this  desired 
project,  —  which  had  occupied  his  thoughts  for  many  years, — 
he  returned  and  accepted  the  professorship  of  Theology  in 
the 'Maine  Charity  School,' just  established  in  Hampden,  Me. 
He  filled  this  office  but  about  a  year,  and  resigned  in  1819, 
with  his  colleague,  Prof.  Jehudi  Ashmun,  when  the  institu 
tion  was  removed  to  Bangor,  and  became  the  Theological 
Seminary  now  permanently  established  and  endowed  there. 

After  leaving  the  Seminary,  Professor  Wines  supplied  the 
pulpit  of  the  Congregational  Church  on  Deer  Island,  in  Pen- 
obscot  Bay.  He  labored  here  twelve  years,  earnestly  devoted 
to  his  work,  and  .especially  to  the  cause  of  Temperance. 
With  this  some  of  his  people  were  dissatisfied. 

A  morbid  nervous  affection,  from  which  he  had  suffered  in 
previous  years,  revisited  him,  induced  by  extreme  exposure 
in  the  spring  of  1832.  He  resorted  to  a  farm  ;  but  the  dis 
ease  increased,  and  resulted  in  a  deep  melancholy  and  tem 
porary  insanity.  In  August,  he  was  conveyed  to  the  M'Lean 
Asylum  at  Charlestown,  where  he  died,  11  Feb.,  1833,  in 
his  67th  year.  His  remains  were  interred  at  Amesbury,  by 
the  side  of  his  daughter. 

Prof.  Wines  married,  27  April,  1786,  Miss  Ruth  Giles, 
daughter  of  Hon.  Benjamin  Giles,  of  Newport,  N.  H.*  She 


*  Benjamin  Giles  was  born   in   Dublin,   Ireland,   and  received    a 
thorough  English  education  in  that  city.    When  he  was  fourteen,  his 


REV.   ABIJAH   WINES.  257 

survived  him  a  few  years,  and  died  March,  1838.  They  had 
twelve  children,  —  eight  daughters  and  four  sons.  Three 
children  died  young.  The  adults  are  as  follows  :  — 

1.  Abigail ;  married  to  Silas  Buell,  of  Orwell,  Vt.     One 
of  her  daughters  is  the  wife  of  Rev.  Job  Hall,  of  Orwell. 

2.  Sarah  ;  married  to  Rev.  Hosea  Wheeler,  pastor  of  the 
Baptist  Church  in  Eastport,  where  he  died,  Dec.,  1822.    She 
died   25  Sept.,  1847,  leaving  one  son  and  three  daughters. 
The  son  is  Rev.  Francis  B.  Wheeler,  of  Brandon,  Vt. 

3.  Mima  ;  married  to  Rev.  Benjamin  Sawyer  of  Salisbury. 
She  died  8  Sept.,  1817,  leaving  three  children.* 

4.  Harriet ;  married  to  Rev.  Weston  B.  Adams,  of  Lewis- 
ton  Falls,  Me.     She  died,  Jan.,  1841,  leaving  one  daughter, 
the  wife  of  Edward  I.  Little,  Esq. ;  she  died  Sept.,  1842. 

5.  Sophia  ;  married  to  Peter  Kimball,  Esq.,  of  Bloomfield, 
Me.,  and  has  three  children. 

6.  Sophronia;  married  to  Rev.  Carlton  Hurd,  of  Frye- 
burg,  Me.     Has  three  children  living.     Marion  Lyle  Hurd, 
who  died  11  Feb.,  1841,  was  their  daughter. 

7.  Maria ;  married  to  Moses  Kimball,  of  Bloomfield,  Me. 
She  died  Feb.,  1841,  leaving  one  daughter. 

Hiram,  the  eldest  son,  died  in  1813,  at  the  age  of  20. 
Edwards,  the  youngest,  died  Dec.,  1840'.t 
"  Prof.  Wines  was  distinguished  for  personal  accomplish 
ments.     He  had  a  stature  erect  and  high  ;  a  compact,  well- 


father  migrated  to  Norwich,  Ct.  At  the  commencement  of  the  Revo 
lution,  he  removed  to  Newport,  N.  H.,  with  his  family,  —  a  wife  and 
two  daughters.  The  daughters  married  brothers,  Christopher  and 
Isaac  Newton. 

Benjamin  Giles  married  a  second  wife,  Ruth  Tracy,  of  Norwich,  Ct., 
by  whom  he  had  one  daughter,  Ruth,  married  to  Rev.  Prof.  Wines  at 
the  age  of  twenty. 

*  Obituary  Notice,  in  the  Panoplist,  Jan  .1818,  Vol.  XIV  p.  21. 

t  Letter  of  Rev.  C.  Hurd,  Fryeburg,  Me. 
•22* 


258      BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

proportioned  frame  ;  a  piercing  eye,  a  manly  aspect,  a  comely 
visage. 

"  His  feelings  were  chiefly  of  the  tender  and  benevolent 
kind.  He  was  seldom  known  to  be  angry. 

"  As  a  preacher,  he  was  plain,  pungent,  and  uncompromis 
ing,  aiming  to  declare  the  whole  counsel  of  God. 

"As  a  theologian,  he  possessed  uncommon  talents.  Here 
his  great  strength  lay.  A  deep  and  discriminating  force  of 
mind  enabled  him  to  understand  the  system  which  he  had 
adopted,  to  discern  its  foundations,  to  simplify  its  points,  to 
explain  its  principles,  and  to  defend  its  positions.  His  mind 
was  accustomed  to  a  critical  and  philosophical  theology.  He 
would  have  a  reason  for  every  article  of  his  faith. 

"  He  was  not  an  orator.  His  manner  was  uncommonly 
plain  and  simple. 

"  He  possessed  a  noble  description  of  greatness.  He  detest 
ed  every  thought  of  what  was  mean,  sordid,  and  covetous.  His 
chief  wish  and  aim  were,  that  he  might  live  for  the  moral 
benefit  of  mankind."* 

His  "  Enquiry  on  the  Taste  Scheme,"  shows  him  to  have 
been  an  acute  thinker.  His  sermons  were  very  thoroughly 
studied  and  carefully  written.  But  when  he  came  to  the 
decision  to  preach  no  more,  he  committed  all  his  manuscripts 
to  the  flames. 

Prof.  Wines  excelled  in  conversation,  and  his  company 
was  always  agreeable.  He  was  remarkably  hospitable,  and 
welcomed  everybody  to  his  house.  Clergymen  felt  at  home 
\mder  his  roof. 

REV.   JOHN    SMITH,  D.   D. 

"Was  the  son  of  Joseph  Smith,  and  descendant  of  Joseph 
who  removed  from  Hartford,  Ct.,  to  Hadley,  1680.  He  was 

*  See  Funeral  Sermon,  by  Rev.  Stephen  Farley. 


REV.    JOHN    S  M  I  T  II  ,  D  .  D  .  259 

the  younger  brother  of  Rev.  Eli  Smith,  of  Hollis,  N.  II.,  and 
of  Rev.  Amasa  Smith.* 

lie  was  born  in  Belchertown,  5  March,  1766;  graduated 
Dartmouth,  1794,  A.  M.  and  D.  D. ;  studied  theology  with 
Rev.  Dr.  Emmons ;  and  was  ordained  over  the  church  in 
Salern,  N.  II.,  2  Jan.,  1797,  as  colleague  with  Rev.  Abner 
Bayley.  He  was  dismissed  from  Salem,  21  Nov.,  1816; 
installed  at  Wenham  the  following  year,  26  Nov.,  and  left, 
8  Sept.,  1819,  to  take  the  chair  of  the  theological  professor 
ship  in  Bangor  Seminary,  March,  1820.  In  this  office  he 
continued  until  his  death,  14  April,  1831,  at  the  age  of  65. 

"  Dr.  Smith  possessed  what  is  fitly  termed  a  reasoning 
mind.  He  loved  the  naked  truth  ;  and,  on  subjects  of  a 
religious  nature,  few  men  could  reason  with  greater  ability. 

"  As  a  preacher,  he  dwelt  much  on  the  perfections  of  God, 
the  great  principles  of  the  Divine  government,  and  on  all 
those  truths  which  are  adapted  to  make  men  feel  their  obli 
gations  to  submit  to  God,  and  accept  the  salvation  offered  in 
the  Gospel. 

"  As  a  theological  professor,  his  constant  aim  was  to  im 
bue  the  minds  of  his  pupils  with  clear,  consistent,  connected, 
systematic  views  of  what  he  believed  to  be  the  doctrines  of 
the  Bible.  He  was  greatly  beloved  and  venerated  by 
them  all. 

"  His  natural  temper  was  marked  by  sympathy,  kindness, 
good-will,  and  a  great  firmness  of  purpose.  His  piety  was 
strongly  marked  with  the  character  of  solidity. 

"  A  cold  and  slight  affection  of  the  lungs  confined  him  to 
his  house  in  February.  He  had  some  apprehensions,  as  his 
will  was  dated  5th  March.  On  the  20th,  the  Sabbath,  he 
sent  a  note  requesting  prayers,  and  asked  his  attendants  to 
sing  the  51st  Psalm,  "  Show  pity,  Lord,"  etc.  "  That,"  said 
he,  "meets  my  case, — just  the  language  of  my  heart." 

*  See  Biog.  Sketch  of  Rev.  Eli  Smith,  Licentiates,  No.  29. 


260      BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

After  this,  there  was  a  rally  of  strength,  so  that  he  conducted 
the  family  devotions.  But,  April  1,  the  disease  returned, 
and  in  a  few  days  he  died. 

"  His  close  was  peaceful.  He  could  converse  only  in 
broken  sentences.  His  closing  words  were,  — "  Perfectly 
willing  —  waiting  —  waiting  —  to  be  called  —  ready  to  de 
part,  and  be  with  Christ.  Blessed  Saviour  —  Eternity.  It 
is  near  —  but  not  too  near  —  nor  will  it  be  too  long."  The 
Seminary  was  in  his  last  thoughts,  and  his  last  prayer  was 
for  its  success.  "  Thou  wilt  bless  it,  and  keep  it.  I  give  it 
up  to  thee.  I  can  do  no  more  for  it.  Thou  canst  do  all 
things."  He  died  without  a  struggle."* 

Rev.  Dr.  Smith  married  Miss  Hannah  Hardy,  of  Pelham, 
N.  II.  After  his  death,  she  was  married  to  a  Mr.  Greely,  of 
Portland  ;  and  again  to  Gen.  Richardson  of  her  native  town, 
with  whom  she  now  lives. 

Dr.  Smith  had  no  children. 

34.   REV.    NATHANIEL    OGDEN 

Was  born  in  1768,  near  the  village  of  Fairton,  Cumberland 
Co.,  N.  J.  His  parents,  Joseph  and  Abigail  Ogden,  both 
died  when  he  was  about  six  years  old,  and  he  lived  with  a 
brother-in-law,  engaged  chiefly  in  farming,  until  about  twenty 
years  of  age,  but  studying  as  he  had  opportunity.  He  then 
devoted  himself  to  securing  means  for  an  education  ;  for  his 
patrimony  was  lost  in  the  fluctuations  and  depreciation  of  the 
continental  currency. 

His  studies  were  pursued  with  an  intimate  friend,  after 
wards  Rev.  John  B.  Preston,  then  a  member  of  the  University 
in 'Philadelphia.  Mr.  Ogden  at  length  entered  the  same  class, 
and  graduated  with  Mr.  Preston  in  1793. 

In  the  December  following,  he  married  Miss  Ruth , 

*  Rev.  Mr.  Pomeroy's  Funeral  Sermon,  Sp.  Pilgrims,  Vol.  V.,  p.  125. 


REV.    NAT  ITA^t  IEL   OGDEN.  261 


and  commenced  school-teaching  in  his  native  State,  and 
reading  theology  at  the  same  time.  In  1794,  he  came  to 
Massachusetts,  and  completed  his  theological  studies  with 
Rev.  Dr.  Ernmons. 

After  approbation,  he  commenced  preaching  in  Taunton, 
to  the  major  part  of  the  Cong,  church,  who,  on  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Judson's  departure  in  1790,  had  withdrawn  from  the  first 
Society,  and  established  worship  in  the  western  part  of  the 
town. 

He  preached  here  but  seven  Sabbaths,  when  he  took  cold 
from  riding  in  a  storm,  and,  in  a  severe  fit  of  coughing,  rup 
tured  a  blood  vessel.  He  was  sick  about  six  months,  and 
died  of  consumption  11  July,  1796,  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Peter 
Walker,  in  Taunton. 

A  month  previous  to  his  own  death,  his  only  child,  a  son 
eighteen  months  old,  also  died.  Mrs.  Ogden  had  left  him  in 
New  Jersey,  to  attend  upon  her  husband  in  his  last  illness. 
This  fact  will  explain  some  allusions  in  the  funeral  sermon 
preached  by  Dr.  Emmons  upon  the  occasion. 

Mr.  Ogden  was  buried  in  Taunton,  on  the  plain  near  the 
site  of  the  old  meeting  house,  and  not  far  from  the  present 
residence  of  Rev.  Mr.  Cobb  of  West  Taunton.  His  stone 
bears  the  following  inscription  ; 

IN  MEMORY  OF 

MR.   NATHANIEL    OGDEN,  A.  B. 

OF  FAIRFIELD,  N.  J.,  PREACHER  OF  THE  GOSPEL, 
WHO  DIED  JULY  11,  1796. 

Aged  28. 

lie  had  preached  on  seven  Lord's  days,  when 
our  high  expectations  of  his  future  usefulness 
were  suddenly  blasted.* 


*  Rev.  S.  H.  Emery,  Taunton. 


262  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

Mr.  Ogden  left  no  printed  works  to  bear  witness  to  liis 
ability.  A  volume  of  his  sermons  was  arranged  by  liis  in 
timate  friend,  Mr.  Preston,  to  be  published  by  subscription. 
But  the  project  was  never  executed.  His  theological  teacher 
entertained  a  high  opinion  of  his  talents,  and  prospects  of 
usefulness.  His  congregation  in  Taunton  regarded  him  as 
"  sound  in  doctrine,  clear  in  religious  experience  and  forcible 
in  argumentation."  * 

Nearly  two  thousand  persons  were  present  at  his  funeral. 

Says  one  who  has  examined  the  volume  intended  for  the 
press ;  "  From  all  that  1  can  learn  of  Mr.  O. :  —  from  the 
expressions  of  those  who  knew  him,  from  Dr.  Emmons's  re 
marks  in  his  funeral  sermon,  and  from  the  evidence  of  his 
manuscript  sermons,  I  cannot  doubt  that  he  was  a  man  of 
rich  promise."  f 

The  widow  of  Mr.  Ogden,  was  married  in  Oct.,  1813,  to 
Rev.  Abijah  Davis  of  Millville,  N.  J.  He  died  in  1817. 
She  still  lives  a  widow,  in  Fairton,  N.  J.} 

35.    REV.    JOHN   BOWERS    PRESTON 

Was  born  in  Fairfield,  Cumberland  Co.,  N.  J.,  3  Oct.,  1770.. 
His  father  was  Col.  Isaac  Preston,  who  died  in  the  service  of 
•his  country,  5  March,  1777,  aged  42.  His  mother,  whose 
name  was  Hannah  Bovvers,  died  in  1782,  at  the  age  of  45, 
leaving  him  an  orphan  at  12  years  of  age. 

His  life  in  infancy  was  for  a  long  time  precarious,  and  he 
wholly  lost  the  sight  of  one  eye. 

At  ten,  he  was  seriously  awakened,  and  his  pious  mother 
had  hope  in  his  conversion.  At  fourteen  he  publicly  pro 
fessed  religion,  and  turned  his  attention  to  the  ministry. 


*  Rev.  A.  Cobb,  Taunton. 

t  Rev.  N.  C.  Burt,  Springfield,  O. 

|  Rev.  B.  B.  Hotchkin,  Branclywine  Manor,  Chester  Co.,  Pa. 


KEV.    JOHN    BOWERS    PRESTON.  2(38 

He  graduated  at  William  and  Ann  College,  Philadelphia, 
1793.  He  then  taught  school  about  two  years,  near  his  native 
place,  when  a  protracted  sickness  compelled  him  to  travel 
for  health  into  New  England.  He  providentially  came  to 
Franklin,  May,  1795,  and  commenced  the  study  of  theology 
with  Rev.  Dr.  Emmons. 

He  was  ordained  8  Feb.,  1798,  at  Rupert,  Vt.,  and  died  on 
Sabbath  morning,  21  Feb.,  1813,  aged  42  years,  having  been 
settled  lo  years.  Just  before  his  sickness,  he  had  watched 
with  two  sick  children,  both  whose  parents  had  been  cut 
down  by  an  epidemic  fever,  and  buried  in  one  day,  of  which 
disease  he  also  soon  after  died.  His  last  sermon  was  from 
Isaiah,  1:11. 

Mr.  Preston  married,  6  Jan.,  1799,  Miss  Polly  Haven  of 
Franklin,  daughter  of  Asa  Haven,  and  niece  of  the  wife  of 
Dea.  James  Metcalf,  in  whose  family  she  resided.  She  was 
afterwards  married  to  Dea.  James  Fisher,  of  Gouverneur,  N. 
Y.,  where  she  died,  23  March,  1848,  aged  71  years.* 

Mr.  Preston  left  five  children  : 

1.  Mary  II. ;  married  to  Harvey  D.  Smith,  Esq.,  of  Poult- 
ney,  Vt.,  now  of  Gouverneur,  N.  Y.     They  have  no  children. 

2.  John  B. ;  grad.  Middlebury  Coll.,  1827,  Auburn,  1830, 
ordained  over  the  Presb.  church,  in  Attica,  N.  Y.,  23   Oct., 
1839  ;  inst.  at  Byron,  N.  Y. ;  now  at  Berlin,  Wis.     He  m. 
1st.,  Mary  Whedon,  of  Hebron,  N.  Y. ;  2nd.,  Clarissa  North, 
of  Farmington,  Ct. ;    Has  G  children. 

3.  Nathaniel  O. ;  grad.  Middlebury  Coll.,  1831  ;   Rector 
of  Epis.  church  of  the  Annunciation,  at  New  Orleans ;  m. 
Charlotte  Whedon,  of  Hebron,  N.  Y.     Has  no  children. 


*  She  was  a  woman  of  more  than  ordinary  talents  and  piety,  and 
found  the  promises  of  the  widow's  God  richly  fulfilled.  Left  poor,  with 
five  little  children,  she  maintained  them,  carried  two  of  them  through 
college,  and  saw  them  all  hopeful  Christians.  See  Obituary  in  N.  Y. 
Evangelist^  q/*1848;  also  Geneal.  of  the  Haven  Family,  Continuation,  p. 
32,  Ed.  0/1849. 


264      BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

4.  Julia  R. ;  m.  to  Rev.  Geo.  S.  Wilson,  then  pastor  of 
the  church  in  Windsor,  Vt.,  afterwards  of  the  Presb.  church 
at  Sackett's  Harbor,  N.  Y.     He  d.  17  May,  1841.    She  then 
m.  Rev.  A.  Cram,  of  Clinton,  N.  Y.,  where  she  now  resides, 
a  widow  with  two  children. 

5.  Maria;  m.  to  Rev.  Stephen  Johnson, of  Griswold,  Ct., 
and  sailed  as  Missionary  of  the  A.  B.  C.  F.  M.,  to  Siam, 
returned  and  died  at  Philadelphia,  8  Jan.,  1839.* 

Mr.  Preston  left  no  printed  works.  His  funeral  sermon, 
printed,  exhibits  him  as  highly  esteemed  by  his  theological 
instructor,  his  ministerial  brethren,  and  his  people. 

He  was  a  man  of  noble  spirit,  of  quick  perceptions,  and 
of  a  solid  judgment.  Solidity,  system,  energy,  and  persever 
ance  were  his  peculiar  characteristics.  His  discernment  of 
characters,  and  especially  of  false  merit,  seemed  as  ready 
as  instinct.  His  sensibility,  both  of  favors  and  of  injuries,  was 
very  acute ;  but  was  generally  regulated  by  a  pious  heart,  with 
dignity  and  propriety.  He  was  singularly  fervent  and  per 
severing  in  every  duty  ;  never  resting  till  it  was  done,  and 
well  done.  This  fervor  of  spirit  rendered  him  singularly 
punctual  to  all  his  engagements.  He  was  an  able  instructor 
of  students  in  theology. 

He  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Evangelical  Society  of 
Western  Vermont,  —  an  Education  Society,  —  and  president 
of  its  board  of  Trustees  at  the  time  of  his  death. 

In  the  extensive  revival  which  visited  Western  Vermont,  in 
1802,  one  hundred  and  eleven  were  gathered  into  the  church 
at  Rupert,  and  his  influence  still  bears  fruit  amongst  that 
people,  favored  by  his  faithful  ministry .f 

His  gravestone  in  Rupert,  Vt.,  bears  the  following :  — 


*  See  Miss.  Herald  for  Feb.,  1839  ;  also,  Letter  of  II.  D.  Smith.  Esq., 
Gouverneur,  N.  Y. 
t  Obit,  notice  by  Rev.  W.  Jackson,  D.  D. 


REV.    JOSEPH    RO  WELL.  265 

SACRED    TO    THE    MEMORY    OF 

REV.  JOHN  B.  PRESTON, 

PASTOR    OF    THE    CONGREGATION.    CHURCH 

In  this  town,  who 
Died  Feb.  21,  1813, 

AGED   42   YEARS. 

As  a  friend,  —  greatly  beloved  ; 
As  a  Christian,  —  alive  and  devoted  ; 
As  a  divine,  —  clear  and  penetrating : 
As  a  preacher,  —  eminently  faithful, 
Solid,  plain,  and  pungent.    Let 
All  who  heard  him,  be  prepared  to 
Meet  him  in  the  judgment  of 
The  great  day. 

36.   KEY.    JOSEPH   ROWELL 

Was  the  eldest  of  nine  children,  and  was  born  in  Rowley, 
in  1767.  He  graduated  at  Dartmouth,  1794,  and  A.M. 
He  studied  Theology  with  Rev.  Dr.  Emmons,  and  com 
menced  preaching  in  Cornish,  N.  H.,  May,  1800,  where  he 
was  ordained,  23  Sept.,  1800.  He  was  dismissed,  19  Feb., 
1828,  and  was  never  resettled  ;  but,  in  1838,  he  removed  to 
Claremont,  N.  H.,  where  he  died,  Nov.,  1842,  aged  75.  His 
death  was  occasioned  by  being  thrown  from  his  wagon,  while 
on  his  return  home  from  a  meeting  of  his  Association. 

Mr.  Rowell  married  Miss  Hannah  Chase,  daughter  of 
Daniel  Chase,  Esq.,  of  Cornish.  She  now  resides  with  her 
daughter,  Mrs.  C.  Tracy,  in  New  York  city.  Their  family 
consisted  of  eleven  children,  viz.  1.  Eliza,  wife  of  Rev. 
Charles  Shedd,  pastor  of  the  Cong,  church  in  Campton,  N.  H. 

2.  Jonathan  Edwards,  a  farmer  in  Claremont,  N.  H. 

3.  Maria  C.,  wife  of  Mr.  Calvin  Tracy,  for  many  years 
Principal  of  a  Classical  Institute  in  New  York  city,  and 
author  of  a  series  of  Mathematical  works. 

23 


266  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

4.  Daniel  C.,  died  while  a  member  of  the  class  of  1837,  in 
Amherst  College. 

5.  Martha  L.,   wife  of  Edwin  Locke.    She  spent,  with 
him,  six  years  in  missionary  labor,  at  the  Sandwich  Islands, 
where  both  now  rest  from  their  labors. 

6.  George  Berkley,   grad.  Amherst,  1837,  and  is  now 
Missionary  at  Sandwich  Islands. 

7.  Timothy  Dwight,  has  been  merchant  at  Canandaigua, 
N.  Y. ;  now  resides  in  Orford,  N.  H. 

8.  Joseph,  grad.  Yale  Coll.,  and  is  missionary  at  Panama. 
He  m.,  11  Oct.,  1852,  Miss  Hannah,  daughter  of  Rev.  A. 
Cummings,  D.  D.,  of  Portland,  Me. 

9.  Samuel  N.,  grad.  Yale,  is   physician  at  New  Haven. 

10.  Caroline  E.,  wife  of  Doct.  A.  G.  Skinner,  Youngs- 
town,  N.  Y. 

11.  Harriet  L.,  wife  of  A.  C.  Stolz,  recently  merchant  in 
New  York  city,  but  now  embarked,  together,  for  Australia.* 

Mr.  Rowell  was  blest  with  pious  parents,  and  his  early  as 
sociations  were  connected  with  religion.  His  first  reading 
was  the  -writings  of  the  Puritans,  which  he  read  and  reread 
until  he  could  almost  repeat  them.  His  mind  became,  conse 
quently  early  and  thoroughly  indoctrinated  with  their  prin 
ciples. 

His  conversion  was  occasioned  by  the  death  of  his  father 
and  grandfather  —  to  him  a  severe  affliction.  But  it  was  some 
years  before  he  ventured  to  indulge  a  hope  for  himself.  This 
gave  a  peculiar  distrustfulness  to  the  character  of  his  subse 
quent  experience,  and  mingled  many  doubts  with  his  hopes. 
But  the  blessing  of  the  Spirit  evidently  attended  his  labors, 
and  he  received  the  name  of  a  devoted  Christian  and  faithful 
minister. 

He  enjoyed  three  seasons  of  revival  and  an  addition  of  170 
souls  to  the  church  in  Cornish. 

*  Letter  of  Mrs.  C.  Tracy,  New  York  city. 


REV.    DRURY    FAIRBANKS.  267 

"Mr.  Rowell  possessed  a  mind  of  great  strength  and  clear 
ness.  His  sermons  were  logical  in  their  arrangement,  lucid 
in  thought,  and  easily  understood  by  the  hearers.  It  was  a 
common  saying :  '  Mr.  RowelVs  sermons  would  hold  water? 
He  dwelt  much  on  the  doctrines  of  the  Bible.  They  were 
food  to  his  soul. 

"  He  was  highly  esteemed  as  a  man.  Upright,  meek  and 
kind  in  his  deportment.  He  was  a  diligent  student,  a  devoted 
pastor,  and  a  very  bold,  fearless,  and  faithful  preacher."  * 

None  of  his  writings  are  published,  save  one  or  two  fune 
ral  sermons. 

37.  EEV.   NATHAN   IIOLMAN. 

[Members  of  Assoc.,  No.  26.] 

38.  REV.   DRURY   FAIRBANKS 

Was  born  in  Holliston,  13  Oct.,  1772.  He  was  the  young 
est  of  five  sons  of  Drury  and  Deborah  (Leland)  Fairbanks.f 

He  graduated  at  Brown  University,  1797,  and  A.  M., 
and  studied  Theology  with  Rev.  Dr.  Emmons.  He  was 
ordained  in  Plymouth,  N.  H.,  1800  ;  and  dismissed  18  March, 
1818,  in  feeble  health,  induced  by  extra  labor  in  the  sur 
rounding  region,  and  by  the  additional  care  of  teaching 
many  youth. 

He  was  next  installed  at  Littleton,  N.  II.,  about  40  miles 
north  of  Plymouth,  3  May,  1820.  He  was  dismissed  in  1836, 
but  still  resides  in  the  town,  upon  a  farm,  to  which  he  has 
retired.  In  both  Plymouth  and  Littleton,  his  labors  have 
been  blessed  to  the  advancement  of  the  cause  of  Christ. 
His  publications  have  been  confined  to  occasional  sermons. 

*  Rev.  A.  Spaulding,  Cornish,  N.  H. 

t  He  is  a  descendant  of  John  or  Jason  Fairbanks,  brothers,  of  Rox- 
bury,  probably  sons  of  John,  Dedham,  1642. 


238  BIOGRAPHICAL     SKETCHES. 

Mr.  Fairbanks  married  Miss  Lucretia  Rockwood,  of  IIol- 
liston.  She  died  suddenly,  March,  1818,  having  been  mar 
ried  17  years.*  He  afterwards  married  Miss  Sarah  Worces 
ter,  relative  of  the  late  S.  Worcester,  D.  D.,  of  Salem.  He 
has  had  eight  children,  five  of  whom  still  survive,  residing 
mostly  in  St.  Johnsbury,  Vt. 

39.   REV.  LEONARD    WORCESTER 

Was  the  son  of  Noah  Worcester,  Esq.,  of  Hollis,  N.  II., 
and  was  born  1  Jan.,  1767.f  His  mother  died  when  he  was 
in  his  sixth  year. 

In  some  memoranda  of  his  life,  left  for  the  use  of  his  chil 
dren,  he  says :  "  All  my  opportunity  for  obtaining  an  educa 
tion  was  comprised  in  attending  school,  about  three  months 
annually,  from  my  childhood  until  I  had  just  entered  my  18th 
year,  in  a  common  school,  such  as  common  schools  then  were 

*  See  obituary  notice,  Panoplist.  March,  1818. 

t  "His  ancestry  is  traceable  to  Rev.  William  Worcester,  from  Salis 
bury,  Eng.,  one  of  the  '  reverend,  learned,  and  holy  divines,'  mentioned 
by  Cotton  Mather.  He  settled  in  Salisbury,  Ms.,  about  1638,  and  d.  28 
Oct.,  1662. 

II.  His  oldest  son,  Samuel  W.,  born  in  England,  a  farmer  of  Brad 
ford.    Returning  homo  on  foot  from  General  Court,   to  which  he  was 
Representative,  he  froze  to  death  on  the  road,  20  Feb.,  1680. 

III.  Francis,  b.  1662,  and  died  17  Dec.,  1717. 

IV.  His  son,  Rev.  Francis,  b.  7  June,  1698.    Blacksmith  until  34 
years  old.   Then  studied  Theology  and  was  ordained  over  the  2d.  church 
in  Sandwich,  1735.    Dis.  1745  ;  removed  to  Exeter,  N.  H. ;  thence  to 
Plaistow  ;  and,  in  1750,  to  Hollis,  N.  II.     He  was  a  Home  Missionary 
until  his  death,  14  Oct.,  1783. 

V.  Noah,  was  his  youngest  son ;  born  4  Oct.,  1735,  in  Sandwich.   He 
had,  by  two  marriages,  16  children,  of  whom  were  Leonard,  Samuel, 
D.  D.,  of  Salem,   Rsv.  Noah,  of  Thornton,  N.  H.,   and  Rev.  Thomas, 
of  Salisbury,  N.  H.  His  first  wife  was  Lydia  Taylor,  of  Hollis.   She  d. 
6  July,  1772.  —  Memoir  of  Samuel  Worcester,  D.  D.,  by  his  Son,  S.  M. 

Worcester,  Salem. 


REV.     LEONARD    WORCESTER.  269 

ill  New  England  ;  in  which,  so  far  as  my  acquaintance  then 
extended,  the  principal  and  indeed  almost  the  only  studies 
were,  reading,  orthography,  writing,  and  common  arithmetic. 
Beyond  these,  my  own  school-education  never  extended." 

In  Sept.,  1784,  he  entered,  as  apprentice,  the  printing  of 
fice  of  Isaiah  Thomas,  Esq.,  of  Worcester,  and  became  a 
member  of  his  family.  lie  continued  in  this  business  until 
1  March,  1799.  During  several  years  of  this  time,  he  was 
editor,  printer,  and  publisher  of  the  Mass.  Spy. 

In  178G,  he  united  with  the  First  church  of  Worcester,  of 
which  Rev.  Dr.  S.  Austin  was  then  pastor.  In  1795,  while 
"  still,  I  believe,"  he  says,  "  the  youngest  male  member," 
he  was  chosen  one  of  the  Deacons.  By  the  advice  of 
judicious  friends,  ministers  and  others,  he  left  his  profitable 
business  of  printer  and  became  a  preacher  of  the  Gospel. 
Though  without  any  previous  preparatory  study  under  the 
direction  of  a  teacher,  he  was  found  so  well  versed  in  the 
doctrines  of  religion,  as  to  receive  the  unanimous  approba 
tion  of  the  Association,  at  a  full  meeting  of  fifteen  members, 
at  which  Dr.  Austin,  his  pastor,  was  present. 

lie  was  very  soon  requested  to  preach,  as  candidate,  at 
Feacham,  Vt.,  where  two  young  men,  former  apprentices  of 
his  at  Worcester,  were  then  engaged  in  their  business.  He 
came,  21  June,  1799,  and  was  ordained,  as  the  first  pastor  of  the 
church,  30  Oct.  Dr.  Austin  preached  the  sermon.  An  aged 
female  told  him,  *  he  was  the  80th  person  she  had  heard 
preach  in  Peacham.' 

He  continued  as  the  active  pastor  nearly  forty  years,  and 
nominally  pastor  till  his  death. 

In  1837,  he  removed  to  Littleton,  N.  H.,  to  reside  with  his 
son,  pastor  of  the  church  ;  afterwards,  to  another  son's  in  the 
ministry,  at  St.  Johnsbury,  Vt.,  where  he  died,  28  May,  1846, 
at  the  age  of  79.  He  was  buried  at  Peacham. 

Mr.  Worcester  married,  1  Nov.,  1793,  Elizabeth,  young 
est  daughter  of  Rev.  Samuel  Hopkins,  D.  D.,  of  Had- 
23* 


270      BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

ley,*  by  whom  he  had  fourteen  children.  Five  died  in  infancy 
Four  survived  the  father.    Of  his  six  adillt  sons,  four  entered 
the  ministry,  and  the  father  preached  the  ordination  sermon  of 
them  all.     The  daughters  all  died  unmarried. 
His  six  sons  were : 

1.  Samuel  A. ;  grad.  U.  Vermont,  1819  ;  Andover,  1823  ; 
Miss,  to  Cherokees,  1825  ;  sentenced  to  Georgia  Penitentia 
ry,  1832 ;  released,  1833  ;  still  Miss,  of  A.  B.  C.  F.  M.  to  the 
Cherokees.     He  m.  Miss  Ann  Orr,  of  Bedford,  N.  H. 

2.  Leonard;   grad.  Dart.   Coll.,  1825;    Principal  of  Fe 
male  Academy  at  Newark,  N.  J.   He  died  at  Walpole,  N.  H., 
24  Aug.,  1835. 

3.  Evarts ;  grad.  Dart.  Col.,  1830  ;  ordained  at  Littleton, 
N.  H.,  17  March,  1836,  and  d.  21  Oct.  ;  m.  Ann,  daughter 
of  Rev.  R.  Shurtleff,  D.  D.,  Prof,  in  Dart.  Coll. 

4.  Isaac  R. ;  successor  of  his  brother,  as  pastor  at  Little 
ton  ;  now  District  Sec'y  for  Mass,  of  the  A.  B.  C.  F.  M. 

5.  John  Hopkins;  grad.  Dart.  Coll.,  1833;  settled  at  St. 
Johnsbury  ;  now  at  Burlington,  Vt. 

6.  Ezra  C. ;  M.  D.,  physician  at  Thetford,  Vt. 

At  Mr.  "Worcester's  ordination,  the  church  numbered  40 
members,  and  the  town  850  inhabitants.  Two  remarkable 
revivals  of  religion  attended  his  ministry,  in  1817-18  and 
1831-2.  As  a  fruit  of  the  first,  225  were  added  to  the  church  ; 
and  of  the  second,  154  ;  the  whole  number  of  additions,  dur 
ing  his  active  pastorate,  5G6  ;  484  by  profession.  But  one 
religious  society  existed  in  the  town  till  near  the  close  of  his 
labors,  when  the  Methodists  formed  a  small  congregation. 
It  is  a  true  saying,  that  "much  of  the  prosperity  of  Peacham 
is  owing  to  Mr.  Worcester." 

Mr.  Worcester,  as  the  above  particulars  show,  was  an  un 
common  man.  He  possessed  great  energy,  perseverance,  and 
forethought,  yet  was  very  conciliatory  and  modest.  "  His  per- 

*  See  Note  in  Sketch  of  Dr.  Emmons,  Members,  No.  12. 


REV.    JOSEPH    EMERSOX.  271 

sonal  appearance  was  commanding,  tall,  and  of  full  propor 
tions.  A  frame  large,  compact,  strong,  and  capable  of  much 
endurance.  With  his  commanding  personal  appearance,  his 
voice  and  manner  corresponded.  Hence  his  sermons  were 
remembered,  and  his  works  live  after  him."  * 

His  course  of  intellectual  training  was  peculiarly  adapted 
to  make  him  an  independent  thinker ;  and  his  sermons  evince 
the  work  of  an  originating  mind.  Yet  he  is  declared  to  have 
been  a  firm  adherent  to  the  Puritan  doctrines  —  the  more 
closely  and  confidently  as  he  advanced  in  life.  The  subtle 
Socinian  speculations  of  his  brother,  Rev.  Noah  W.,  of  Brigh 
ton,  caused  but  a  temporary  and  superficial  disturbance  in  his 
views. 

He  published  several  sermons  and  pamphlets,  of  which 
the  chief  are  the  following  :  1.  Letters  and  Remarks  on  a 
Sermon  of  Rev.  Aaron  Bancroft,  on  Election.  (Published 
while  a  printer,  and  had  much  to  do  with  his  introduction  to 
the  ministry.)  2.  Oration  on  the  Death  of  Washington. 
3.  Fast  Sermon.  4.  Sermon  on  Isa.  35 :  8.  5.  Answer  to 
Rev.  Wm.  Gibson's  Rejoinder.  6.  Sermon  on  2  Sam.  7:  27. 

7.  Sermon  —  "  Men  sometimes  their  own  worst  Enemies." 

8.  Inquiries  occasioned  by  Address  of  the   Gen.  Assoc.  of 
N.  IL,  on  the  Trinity.     9.  Funeral  Sermon.     10.  Sermon  — 
Confession   of   Faith   of  the   Peacham    Church   defended. 
11.  Appeal  to  the   Conscience   of    Rev.    Solomon   Aiken, 
concerning  his  Appeal  to  the  Churches.     12.  Ord.  Sermon  of 
Rev.  Elnathan  Gridley  and  Rev.  S.  A.  Worcester,  as  Mis 
sionaries.     13.  Sermon  on  the  Alton  Outrage.     14.  Sermon 
on  the  Close  of  his  Ministry. 

40.    REV.   JOSEPH   EMERSON, 

The  son  of  Daniel  and  Ama  (Fletcher)  Emerson,  was 
born  in  Hollis,  N.  II.,  13  Oct.,  1777.f 

*  Obit,  notice,  by  Rev.  D.  Merrill. 

t  This  family  have  been  prolific  in  ministers.     The  first  ascertained 


272     BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

He  pursued  his  preparatory  studies  at  New  Ipswich,  N.  H., 
and  entered  Harvard  Univ.,  whence  he  graduated,  1798,  and 
A.  M.  While  in  college,  he  became  the  subject  of  Divine 
grace,  and  made  a  profession  of  religion  in  1797.  He  took 
charge  of  the  Framingham  Academy,  the  first  year  after 
graduating,  and  then  officiated  as  Tutor,  at  Cambridge,  two 
years,  meanwhile  studying  Theology  with  Rev.  Dr.  Emmons.* 

In  March,  1803,  he  commenced  preaching  in  Beverly. 
In  June,  he  received  a  call,  and  was  ordained  over  the  Third 
Cong,  church  in  Beverly,  21  Sept.,  1803.  Dr.  Emmons 
preached  at  his  ordination.  While  here,  his  interest  in  Edu 
cation  prompted  him  to  great  exertions  for  its  promotion. 
He  was  also  occupied  in  preparing,  and  publishing  his  Memoir 

ancestor  was  Rev.  Joseph  Emerson,  the  first  minister  of  Mendon,  or 
dained  1667.  When  the  settlement  was  broken  up  by  the  Indians,  he 
removed  to  Concord,  and  died  there,  3  Jan.,  1680.  He  m.  Elizabeth, 
dau.  of  Rev.  Peter  Bulkier,  of  Concord.  She  afterwards  married  Capt. 
John  Brown,  of  Reading,  whose  first  wife  was  Elizabeth,  dau,  of  Rev. 
John  Fiske,  first  min.  of  Chelmsford. 

2.  Peter  Emerson,  s.  of  Rev.  Joseph,  m.  Anna,  dau.  of  Capt.  Brown, 
and  was  father  of  Rev.  Daniel,  of  Hollis,  N.  II.  3.  Daniel  was  b.  20 
May,  1716 ;  converted  under  Whitefield  ;  ord.  first  min.  of  Hollis,  1743  j 
chaplain  at  Crown  Point,  1755  ;  pastor,  over  50  years  ;  and  died,  1801. 
He  m.  Hannah,  daughter  of  Rev.  Joseph  Emerson,  of  Maiden,  (who 
was  son  of  Edward,  and  grandson  "of  Rev.  Joseph,  of  Mendon) 
and  of  his  wife  Mary,  daughter  of  Rav.  Samuel  Moody,  of  York. 
4.  Pea.  Daniel,  son  of  Rev.  Daniel,  b.  at  Hollis,  26  Dec.,  1746  ;  m.  A- 
ma,  daughter  of  Dea.  Joseph  and  Elizabeth  Fletcher,  of  D  unstable.  He 
had  7  ch. :  Daniel,  Ama,  Hannah,  Joseph,  Ralph,  Samuel,  and  William. 
He  d.  20  Oct.,  1820. — Farmer.  Other  branches  of  this  family  are 
equally  clerical. 

*  While  in  this  office,  he  shewed  the  manuscript  of  Dr.  Emmons's 
Sermon  on  'Activity  and  Dependence,'  (which  the  Dr.  was  then  delibe 
rating  about  printing)  to  Prest.  Webber,  for  his  opinion.  After  re 
peatedly  answering  his  inquiries,  .by  saying  :  '  I  will  read  it  again  ;'  on 
the  third  or  fourth  interview,  the  President  handed  the  Sermon  back 
to  Mr.  E.,  with  the  exclamatory  criticism  :  '  It 's  a  plaguy  thing!'  "  — 
Rev.  T.  Williams. 


REV.     JOSEPH    EMERSON.  273 

of  Miss  l^anny  Woodbury,  and  his  Evangelical  Primer. 
Under  these  additional  labors  his  health  failed,  and  he  was 
seized,  in  1811,  with  a  species  of  paralysis, — first  in  his  right 
wrist,  and  then  in  both  wrists, —  so  that  he  was  driven  from 
his  writing-desk.  On  a  second  attack,  he  was  disabled  in  his 
ankles  ;  and,  being  unable  to  stand,  was  compelled  to  sit  and 
preach.  lie  bore  these  painful  attacks  until  serious  inroads 
were  made  upon  his  general  health,  when  he  felt  obliged  to 
renounce  his  pastoral  charge,  to  the  deep  regret  of  himself 
and  his  flock.  He  was  dismissed,  21  Sept.,  1816,  after  a  set 
tlement  of  just  13  years. 

He  immediately  sailed  to  the  South,  to  spend  the  winter. 
He  stopped  in  Charleston,  S.  C.,  where,  still  laborious,  he 
delivered  and  published  a  course  of  Lectures  upon  the  Mil 
lennium.  .  On  his  return  to  the  North,  he  established  an 
Academy  at  Byfield,  and,  in  the  winter  following,  gave  a 
course  of  Astronomical  Lectures  in  Boston.  In  1821,  he 
opened  a  school  in  Saugus,  and  supplied  the  pulpit  at  the 
same  time;  but  he  was  compelled  to  seek  a  southern  home, 
again,  at  Charleston,  for  the  winter  of  1823.  Here  he  re 
peated  his  Historical  Lectures,  which  had  been  given  in 
Beverly.  Again  he  returned  to  Saugus,  but  gave  up  his 
labors  as  a  minister,  in  1825,  and  removed  to  Wethersfield, 
Ct.  At  this  place,  he  ree'ntered  upon  his  favorite  business 
of  teaching.  During  his  residence  here,  he  visited  Saugus, 
and  gave  familiar  Lectures  upon  Pollok's  Course  of  Time. 

Such  ceaseless  activity  cut  short  his  days,  and  he  died  at 
Wethersfield,  13  May,  1833,  at  the  age  of  5G. 

Mr.  Emerson  married  Miss  Nancy  Eaton  of  Framingham, 
daughter  of  Ebenezcr  and  Rebekah  Eaton,  and  one  of  his 
pupils  in  the  Academy.  She  died  15  June,  1804,  within 
seven  months  of  her  marriage,  in  her  26th  year.  He  next 
married  Miss  Eleanor  Read  of  Northbridge,  daughter  of 
Thomas  and  Martha  Read,  by  whom  he  had  one  child,  a 
daughter  Nancy,  still  living.  Mrs.  E.  died  at  Leicester  on  a 


274      BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

journey  for  her  health,  7  Nov.,  1808.  Her  Memoir  has  been 
published. 

Mr.  Emerson  married  a  third  wife,  Miss  Rebecca  Hazel- 
tine  of  Bradford. 

He  had  nine  children  in  all,  six  of  whom  reached  ma 
turity. 

1.  Nancy;  above  mentioned. 

2.  Luther;  grad.  Amherst,  1831,  went  to  Virginia,  1837, 
and  now   has  charge  of  Sheremiah  Church  ( O.  S.  Presb.) 
Augusta    Co.     He  m.  Miss    Catharine   Miner,   Albemarle 

Co.,Va. 

3.  Alfred ;  graduated  at  Yale  and  Andover  ;  and  ord.  at 
South  Reading,  1845.     He  m.  Miss  Martha  E.  Vose,  Lan 
caster. 

4.  Ellen  ;  Teacher  in  Scottsville,  Va.,  where  she  died  1848. 

5.  Edwin  ;  died  1841,  at  Matanzas,  Cuba. 

G.  John;  died  1851,  at  San  Francisco,  Cal.,  whither  he 
went  as  Captain  of  a  ship. 

Mr.  Emerson  was,  in  personal  appearance,  tall  and  slender, 
with  a  dark  complexion,  and  mild  hazel  eyes.  His  motions 
were  quick  but  not  strong.  In  the  latter  part  of  his  life,  he 
was  much  bowed  down  and  emaciated  by  disease.  He  pos 
sessed  an  attractive  vein  of  pleasantry,  and,  though  he  was 
sometimes  reserved,  yet  generally,  the  natural  enthusiasm  of 
his  character  imparted  a  charm  to  his  conversation  and  made 
him  a  most  welcome  guest  and  desirable  companion. 

As  a  student,  he  was  diligent  beyond  the  bounds  of  pru 
dence.  The  rapidity  with  which  he  multiplied  plans  for  the 
mental  and  moral  improvement  of  mankind  shows  the  activi 
ty  of  his  mind. 

As  a  Teacher  of  youth,  he  was  original,  practical  and  suc 
cessful,  and  deeply  interested  in  the  moral  culture  of  his  pu 
pils.  His  edition  of  Watts  on  the  Mind  has  been  and  is  ex 
tensively  used,  and  invaluable  in  its  influences. 

As  a  man,  he  knew  not  how  to  dissemble  or  wear  a  mask. 


As  a  Christian,  he  was  characterized  by  the  habitual  fervor 
of  his  devotional  feelings,  an  earnest  love  of  truth,  deep 
wrought  humility,  and  a  warm  and  expanded  benevolence. 
His  last  earthly  words  were  "  Peace  —  more  than  peace." 

41.   REV.   NATHAN   WALDO,   JR. 

Was  a  native  of  Canterbury,  Ct.  He  was  not  a  graduate 
of  any  college,  but  received  the  honorary  degree  of  A.  B.  from 
Dartmouth  college  in  1 805.  He  studied  theology  with  Rev. 
Dr.  Emmons,  whose  doctrinal  system  he  adopted  and  ardently 
defended. 

After  preaching  as  a  Licentiate  about  five  years,  he  was 
ordained  at  "VVilliamstown,  Vt.,  26  February,  1806.  Rev. 
Dr.  Parish,  of  Byfield,  preached  on  the  occasion.  He  was 
dismissed,  8  Sept.,  1812,  and  soon  after  removed  to  Orange, 
N.  H.  His  subsequent  history  is  not  known. 

Mr.  Waldo  was  never  married. 

'  In  person  he  was  very  singular,  as  well  as  in  some  of  his 
habits.  lie  was  tall  and  slender.  His  joints  seemed  to  be 
loose,  and  his  spare,  skeleton  frame  hardly  to  hold  together. 
His  gait  was  reeling,  tottering,  and  apparently  tending  to  fall. 
His  health  was  generally  good,  and  both  body  and  mind  were 
capable  of  much  endurance.  He  was  very  abstemious  of 
meats,  and  rich  food  he  ate  little.  Of  fruit  he  could  never  eat 
enough,  although  he  was  continually  trying  the  experiment. 

<•  As  a  writer,  he  united  great  purity  of  style  with  precis 
ion. 

'As  a  man,  he  was  modest,  diffident,  retiring.  His  piety 
was  speculative  and  sedative.'* 

His  ordination  sermon  pays  this  high  tribute  to  his  charac 
ter.  "  Having  been  acquainted  with  your  pastor  elect  from 
early  life ;  having  known  the  high  approbation  and  esteem 

*  Rev.  J.  P.  Cleveland,  D.  D.,  Providence. 


276       BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

which  he  has  enjoyed  in  many  intelligent  churches  in  our 
part  of  the  country  ;  knowing,  also,  his  industry,  his  prudence, 
his  respectable  talents,  natural  and  acquired,  we  cannot  but 
consider  it  a  token  of  the  divine  favor,  an  evidence  of  redeem 
ing  love,  that  he  is_this  day  to  be  set  over  you  in  the  Lqrd.  " 

42.    REV.    LEVI    NELSOX 

Was  born  in  Milford,  8  Aug.,  1779.  He  was  the  son  of 
Mr.  Seth  Nelson,  and  his  wife  Silence  (Cheney)  Nelson,  both 
of  Milford.* 

He  is  the  youngest,  and  with  the  exception  of  his  brother 
Seth,  —  father  of  Rev.  Henry  Kelson,  of  Auburn,  N.  Yv 
—  the  only  survivor  of  eleven  children.  Rev.  Dr.  Nelson, 
of  Leicester,  is  his  nephew. 

His  hopeful  conversion  took  place  in  1795,  while  preparing 
for  college.  He  entered  the  sophomore  class  of  Brown  Uni 
versity,  179G  ;  left  the  following  June  for  Williams  College, 
but  was  arrested  by  sickness,  which  induced  feeble  health 
for  many  years,  and  he  was  thereby  prevented  from  graduat 
ing.  But  encouraged  by  Rev.  Dr.  Emmons,  with  whom  he 
studied  theology,  he  persisted  in  his  intentions  to  preach  the 
Gospel,  and  was  finally  approbated. 

In  1803,  he  received  a  commission  from  the  Mass.  Miss. 
Society,  to  labor  six  months,  in  what  is  now  the  northern 
part  of  Oneida  and  Lewis  counties,  N.  Y.  Poor  health 
prevented  his  preaching  more  than  sixteen  weeks.  In  Dec. 

*  The  father,  or  grandfather  of  Seth  Xelson.  came  to  Milford  from 
Rowley.  He  was  probably  a  descendant  of  Thomas  Kelson,  who  came 
from  England,  1G38,  bringing  two  sons,  Philip  and  Thomas,  whom  lie 
left  in  the  care  of  Richard  Duinmcr,  their  great  uncle,  and  returned  to 
England,  where  he  died.  Aug.,  1648.  Philip  grad.  II.  U.,  1 054,  the  only 
one  of  that  year,  and  died  1691.  He  made  some  trouble  in  Rowley,  by 
pretending  to  cure  a  deaf  and  dumb  boy,  by  saying '  Enhphatha.'  Tho 
mas,  Jr,  died  1712,  aged  77.— Farmer. 


REV.     JOSEPH    CIIEXEY.  277 

and  Jan.,  he  preached  in  Tewksbury.  He  first  preached  in 
Lisbon,  Ct.,  12  May,  1804,  where  he  was  ultimately  ordained, 
5  Dec.,  of  the  same  year.  Rev.  D.  Long  of  Milford  preached 
from  1  Cor.  2:2.  In  this  connection  he  still  remains. 

Mr.  Nelson  married  Miss  Abigail  Tyler,  of  Mendon. 
She  died  in  Dec.,  1806,  within  two  years  of  her  marriage, 
leaving  a  daughter,  who  was  married  Jan.,  1826,  and  died 
in  June  following.  lie  next  married,  Aug.,  1809,  Miss  Mary 
Hale,  of  Franklin,  Ct.,  daughter  of  Joseph  Hale,  of  Coven 
try,  Ct.,  who  was  brother  to  the  late  Rev.  Enoch  Hale,  of 
West  Hampton.  She  died  childless,  2  May,  1851. 

Mr.  Nelson's  publications  are ;  1.  Sermon  before  For. 
Miss.  Soc'y,  of  Norwich  and  vicinity,  1813 ;  2.  Thanksgiv 
ing  Sermon,  1830  ;  3.  Annual  Address,  before  the  Norwich 
and  Vicinity  Temperance  Soc'y ;  4.  Tract  "  On  Attending 
Public  Worship,"  16  pp. ;  5.  A  letter  to  the  Theol.  Profes 
sors,  New  Haven,  88  pp.,  1848;  6.  Letters  to  the  Christian 
Public,  pp.  128,1851. 

43.   REV.   JOSEPH   CHENEY, 

The  son  of  Josiah  and  Lydia  (Gleason)  Cheney,  was  born 
in  Holden,  16  Aug.,  1775,  graduated  at  Brown  Univ.,  1801, 
and  studied  theology  with  Rev.  Dr.  Emmons. 

After  Approbation,  he  preach  in  various  places,  until  1807, 
Sept.  15,  when  he  received  and  accepted  a  call  to  settle  in 
Milton,  Vt.,  where  he  remained  ten  years.  He  was  next 
settled  in  Salisbury,  Vt.,  March,  1819,  and  dismissed  in  1823. 
A  short  time  before  his  dismission  he  was  thrown  from  a 
horse.  The  fall  greatly  injured  his  nervous  system,  and  put 
an  end  to  his  preaching,  and  finally  to  his  life.  He  died,  6 
June,  1833,  at  the  residence  of  his  daughter,  Mrs.  A  very,  in 
Brandon,  Vt.,  in  the  58th  year  of  his  age,  having  spent  near 
ly  twenty  years  of  active  labor  in  the  ministry. 

Mr.  Cheney  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Preston,  of  North- 
bridge.  She  died  Sept.,  1819,  and  he  married  Miss  Hilpha 
24 


IsTo  BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES. 

Nash,  of  New  Haven,  Vt.,  with  whom  he  lived  but  a  few 
years.     Four  children  survived  him,  and  still  live  ; 

1.  Elizabeth  C. ;  married  Charles  Flagg,  Esq.,  of  Holden. 
now  Post-master  of  East  Brookfield. 

2.  Lydia   C. ;  the  wife  of  Mr.   Elijah   Avery,  of  Bran 
don,  Vt. 

3.  Joseph  Preston,  of  New  Braintree. 

4.  Willard,  Rev. ;  pastor  of  the  presb.  church,  in  Spring 
field,  Kentucky.* 

The  ministerial  character  of  Mr.  Chene}r,  is  thus  sketched 
by  Rev.  Mr.  Ingraham,  the  minister  of  Brandon,  at  the  time 
of  his  death. 

"  As  it  regards  his  knowledge  of  theology,  he  stood  high 
among  his  brethren.  As  a  preacher,  he  was  clear,  earnest, 
and  faithful.  Many,  who  were  brought  into  the  fold  of  Christ 
under  his  ministrations,  will  cherish  with  warm  affections, 
the  memory  of  one  who  was  the  instrument,  in  the  hand  of 
God,  of  leading  them  to  the  knowledge  of  the  truth  as  it  is 
in  Jesus.  During  his  last  illness,  which  was  of  long  contin 
uance,  his  mind,  until  it  became  too  much  impaired,  dwelt 
much  on  the  revealed  character  and  offices  of  God  manifest 
in  the  flesh.  He  meditated  much  on  the  Epistle  to  the 
Hebrews,  and  derived  great  peace  and  joy  from  the  views  of 
Jesus,  the  Author  and  Finisher  of  our  Faith.  Such  passages 
as  Heb.  12:2,  particularly  confirmed  his  hope,  strengthened 
his  faith,  increased  his  joy,  and  elevated  his  soul." 

44.   REV.    SHERMAN   JOHNSON 

Was  born  in  Southboro',  18  Aug.,  1776.  His  parents  were 
John  and  Persis  (Sherman)  Johnson. f 

He  graduated  at  Yale  College,  1802,  studied  theology  with 

*  Letter  of  Mrs.  E.  C.  Flagg,  E.  Brookfield. 

t  His  grand-parents  were  Isaac  and  Rachel  Johnson,  and  Ephraim 
and Sherman.  —  Rev.  A.  Raivson.  SoutJtboro\ 


REV.    GAI US CONANT.  279 

Rev.  Dr.  Emmons,  and  was  settled  in  Milford,  Ct.,  in  1804 ; 
where  he  died,  1806,  aged  30  years. 

He  married  Miss  Sally  Daggett,  of  New  Haven,  and  left 
one  child,  Sherman  Johnson,  Jr.,  now  supposed  to  be  a  resident 
in  Hartford,  Ct. 

The  lack  of  information,  prevents  any  exhibition  of  his 
character,  or  of  his  brief  ministerial  life. 

45.  REV.    DAVID    HOLMAN. 

[See  Sketches  of  Members,  No.  33.] 

46.  REV.    GAIUS    CONANT 

Was  born  in  Bridgewater  6  September,  1776.  His  parents 
were  Ezra  and  Mary  Conant.  His  ancestral  line  upon  both 
sides  unites  in  Nathaniel  Conant  of  Beverly.* 

He  graduated  at  Brown  University,  1800 ;  and  studied 
theology  with  Rev.  Dr.  Emmons.  He  was  ordained  at  Pax- 
ton,  17  February,  1808  ;  and  closed  his  ministry  there,  May, 
1 830.  He  was  next  installed  over  the  second  church  in 


*  Ezra  Conant,  his  father,  was  the  son  of  Thomas,  and  grandson  of 
Nathaniel,  Jr.,  whose  father  Nathaniel,  came  from  Beverly  to  South 
Bridgewater,  before  1690.  His  mother,  Mary,  was  daughter  of  David 
Conant,  Jr.,  whose  father  David,  was  son  of  William  Conant,  brother 
of  Nathaniel,  Jr.,  just  mentioned.  This  Nathaniel  Conant,  was  probably 
son  of  Lot  Conant,  a  son  of  Roger  Conant,  immigrant  at  Plymouth, 
1623,  and  who  built  the  first  house  in  Salem,  1626. 

Roger  is  supposed  to  be  brother  of  Dr.  John  Conant,  one  of  the 
Westminster  Assembly  of  Divines.  History  of  Bridyeivater,  p.  140.  If 
so,  he  was  the  son  of  Richard  and  Agnes  Conant,  and  born,  April,  1591, 
at  Budligh,  Devonshire,  Eng.,  and  grandson  of  John  Conant, "  descended 
from  ingenious  parents  of  Gittisham,  near  Honiton,  whose  ancestors,  for 
many  generations,  have  been  fixed  there,  but  originally  of  French  «x- 
traction."  —  Gibbs,  in  Farmer. 


280      BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

Plymouth,  24  April,  1834  ;  and  dismissed  April,  1841,  on  ac 
count  of  the  failure  of  his  health.  He  then  retired  to  Pax- 
ton,  where  he  now  resides. 

Mr.  Conant  married  Cassandra  Whitman,  daughter  of 

Mr.  Zechariah  Whitman  of  Bridgewater.  She  died, . 

and  he  married  Mrs.  Chloe  Leonard,  widow  of  Mr.  Jonas 
Leonard,  and  daughter  of  Mr.  Jesse  Allen,  all  of  Bridgewa 
ter. 

He  has  had  six  children.  Five  sons  and  one  daughter. 
The  oldest,  Cyrus  Whitman,  is  amongst  those  approbated  by 
this  association.  (See  Licentiates,  No.  86.) 


47.    REV.    DANIEL    THOMAS. 

[See  Sketches  of  Members,  No.  41.] 

48.    REV.    STEPHEN    CHAPIN,  D.    D. 

Was  born  in  Milford,  1778,  and  was  the  son  of  Stephen 
Chapin  and  his  wife,  Rachel  (Rawson)  Chapin.  She  was  a 
descendant  in  the  fifth  generation  from  secretary  Edward 
Rawson. 

Dr.  Chapin  graduated  at  Harvard,  1804,  and  S.  T.  D.. 
Brown  Univ.  1822,  and  studied  theology  with  Rev.  Dr. 
Emmons.  He  was  ordained  at  Hillsboro',  N.  H.,  19  June, 
1805,  and  dismissed  12  May,  1808.  Installed  at  Mt.  Vernon, 
N.  H.,  15  Nov.,  1809,  and  dismissed  18  Nov.,  1818,  on  ac 
count  of  a  change  in  his  views  respecting  the  mode  of  Bap 
tism.  He  next  preached  at  North  Yarmouth,  Me.,  and  was 
afterwards,  in  1822,  elected  professor  of  sacred  theology,  in 
Waterville  College,  which  office  he  continued  to  fill  until 
1828.  He  was  then  called  to  the  presidency  of  Columbian 
College,  just  established  at  Washington,  D.  C.  This  trust 
he  fulfilled  until  his  death,  1  Oct.,  1845,  at  the  pge  of  67. 


REV.    STEPHEN   CHAFIN,D.D.  281 

In  1809,  Dr.  Chapin  married  Miss  Sarah  Mosher,  of  Hol- 
lis,  N.  II.  She,  with  three  sons  and  two  daughters,  survived 
him.* 

Dr.  Chapin  possessed  many  admirable  traits  of  character. 

"  His  mind  was  not  brilliant,  but  close,  discriminating,  pa 
tient,  and  careful  in  investigation.  He  loved  to  study, 
yet  he  seemed  to  have  but  one  object  in  view,  —  to  make  a 
sanctified  use  of  all  the  knowledge  he  could  acquire.  He 
possessed  an  excellent  literary  taste,  and  his  style  of  com 
position,  for  purity,  precision,  and  a  chaste  and  elegant 
simplicity,  has  rarely  been  excelled.  His  thoughts  were 
always  most  carefully  considered,  and  the  utmost  pains  taken 
to  present  them  in  the  clearest,  most  simple,  and  at  the  same 
time,  most  impressive  manner.  He  lacked  the  graces  of 
person  and  delivery,  yet  his  performances  were  listened  to 
with  pleasure  and  profit.  The  Bible  was  his  daily  study  and 
delight,  especially  towards  the  close  of  his  life.  Next  to  the 
Bible,  he  loved  the  works  of  the  old  English  Divines."  In  sen 
timents  he  closely  agreed  with  his  theological  instructor. 

Though  somewhat  reserved  in  manners,  and,  to  strangers, 
appearing  rather  distant,  yet  to  his  friends  and  family  he 
was  steadily  and  strongly  attached. 

"  The  crowning  excellence  of  his  character,  was  his  con 
sistent  and  devoted  piety.  He  appeared,  in  a  far  more 
emphatic  sense  than  is  common,  to  regard  himself  as  belong 
ing  to  Christ,  and  to  be  only  anxious  to  employ  himself  and  all 
that  he  had  in  his  service.  His  simple-hearted  ingenuous, 
and  underrating  piety,  made  the  strongest  impression  upon 
the  minds  of  all  who  knew  him."| 

•    A  list  of  his  publications  has  not  been  collected.     A  ser 
mon  of  his  was  published,  delivered  before  the  Trustees  of 


*  llev.  W.  B.  Sprague,  D.  D.,  Albany. 

t  Rev.  J.  S.  Bacon,  D.  D.,  Pres't  of  Columbian  Coll.,  Washington, 
1).  C. 

24* 


282      BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES- 

Columbian  College,  with  an  obituary  notice  of  its  founder, 
Rev.  Luther  Rice.  Sermon  before  the  Me.  Bap.  Ed.  Socie 
ty,  1820.  Also  a  sermon  addressed  to  Mariners,  North  Yar 
mouth,  Me.,  1821. 

49.   REV.   ELNATHAN   WALKER 

Was  born  inTaunton,  18  Feb.,  1780,  and  was  the  son  of 
Peter  and  Deborah  Walker.  He  fitted  for  college  at  Bristol 
Academy,  Taunton,  under  Rev.  Simeon  Doggett,  and  gradua 
ted  at  Brown  Univ.,  1803.  He  studied  theology  with  Rev. 
Dr.  Emmons,  was  settled  over  the  Presb.  church  in  Homer, 

N.  Y.,  25  Oct.,  1809,  and  died  there  in  the  ministry,  4 . 

1820,  aged  40. 

Mr.  Walker  married  Miss  Aurelia  King,  of  Sharon,  Ct, 
in  1809,  and  had  three  children,  two  sons  and  a  daughter. 
James  was  lost  at  sea  in  the  steamship  "  Home,"  9  Oct.,  1837. 
Elnathan  G.  is  a  merchant  in  W.  New  York.* 

Mr.  Walker  was  a  slow,  but  patient  and  thorough  scholar. 
In  his  youth  he  was  sedate,  amiable,  and  beloved  by  all  in 
his  native  place.  His  mature  character,  is  thus  sketched  in 
an  obituary  in  the  "  Cortland  Repository  :  " 

"  As  a  man,  Mr.  Walker  possessed  an  assemblage  of  ami 
able  qualities.  As  a  Christian,  he  was  diligent  and  exempla 
ry.  As  a  minister,  fie  set  an  example  of  prudence,  patience, 
and  fidelity. 

He  was  a  firm  advocate  for  the  doctrines  of  grace.  He 
preached  them  plainly  and  cheerfully,  and  decidedly  bore 
testimony  in  their  favor  on  his  dying  bed.  He  was  a  friend 
to  revivals  of  religion  by  the  efficacious  influence  of  the 
Holy  Spirit.  No  less  than  three  general  revivals  were  ex-' 
perienced  in  the  congregation  during  his  pastoral  connection 
with  them,  and  four  hundred  and  sixty-eight  members  were 
added  to  the  church. 

*  Letter  of  Rev.  A.  Cobh,  Taunton. 


REV.     ELNATHAN     WALKER.  283 

It  is  related,*  that  several  persons  became  at  one  time 
somewhat  uneasy  under  Mr.  Walker's  ministry,  and  agitated 
the  subject  of  his  dismission.  He  promptly  responded  to 
the  suggestion,  and  a  council  was  invited  to  consider  the 
question.  An  anxious  people  assembled  to  await  the  result. 
The  Moderator  opened  the  session  with  a  prayer  of  peculiar 
fervor  and  earnestness,  especially  praying  for  the  movers  of 
so  responsible  a  step  as  severing  the  pastoral  relation.  The 
spirit  of  the  prayer  awakened  new  thoughts  and  feelings  in 
the  assembly.  At  its  close,  one  of  the  chief  agitators  request 
ed  a  delay  of  the  proceedings,  and  moved,  before  the  church, 
a  reconsideration  of  the  matter  to  be  presented  to  the  council ; 
which  motion  was  unanimously  carried. 

The  council,  instead  of  dismissing  the  pastor,  were  invited 
to  stay  and  assist  him  in  gathering  in  the  fruits  of  a  most  ex 
tensive  and  precious  revival,  of  which  God's  answer  to  that 
prayer  was  the  beginning.  The  question  of  his  dismission 
was  never  afterwards  agitated. 

"  Mr.  Walker's  funeral  was  attended  by  more  than  two 
thousand  people,  assembled  to  pay  their  last  tribute  of  res 
pect  to  departed  worth.  Eleven  of  the  neighboring  clergy 
men  were  present.  The  funeral  sermon  was  preached  by 
Rev.  Mr,  Lansing,  from  Heb.  11  :  27  ;  "  For  he  endured  as 
seeing  Him  who  is  invisible." 


50.    MR.  ALGERNON    S.    BAILEY 

Was  born  in  Berlin,  11  May,  1782.  He  was  the  son  of 
Dea.  Stephen  and  Sally  (Crosby)  Bailey.  His  mother  was 
the  daughter  of  Doct,  Samuel  and  Azubah  Crosby  of  Shrews 
bury,  afterwards  of  Winchendon.t 

Mr.  Bailey's  attention  was  specially  turned  to  personal  re- 

*  Rev.  S.  Raymond,  Briclgcwater. 
f  Letter  of  Rev.  II.  Adams,  Berlin. 


284  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

ligion,  by  the  labors  of  his  room-mate,  while  he  was  prepar 
ing  for  college.  He  joined  the  church  at  Berlin,  March,  1803, 
and  entered  Harvard  University  the  same  year.  But  he 
left  Cambridge,  and  joined  the  Junior  Class  at  Williams 
College ;  where  he  graduated  in  1806.  In  March  9f  this 
year,  he  was  attacked  severely  with  pleurisy,  which  devel 
oped  his  hereditary  and  final  disease,  Consumption. 

After  his  approbation,  Mr.  Bailey  commenced  preaching 
in  Douglas,  but  he  preached  only  until  Jan.,  1807,  when  he 
was  compelled  to  leave  the  pulpit  on  account  of  his  failing 
health.  He  removed  to  Philadelphia,  but  the  change  result 
ed  in  no  special  benefit.  The  Winter  of  1808,  he  spent  in 
New  York,  still  without  visible  improvement.  He  returned 
home  to  Berlin  in  the  Spring,  but  his  disease  rapidly  gained 
upon  him,  and  he  died  26  May,  1808,  at  the  age  of  26 
years. 

Mr.  Bailey  was  neither  ordained  nor  married. 

His  natural  abilities  and  devoted  spirit  promised  much 
usefulness.  But  his  brief  public  life  awakened  high  expecta 
tions  only  to  disappoint  them. 

"  He  had  a  clear,  discriminating  mind,  and  promised  to  be 
a  potent  advocate  of  the  distinguishing  doctrines  of  revealed 
religion.  His  zeal  was  fervent,  and  rose  superior  to  every 
discouragement.  In  his  prayers,  he  was  uncommonly  de 
vout,  collected,  humble  ;  in  his  endeavors  to  do  good,  un 
wearied."* 

Mr.  Bailey  is  the  author  of  "Letters  on  Fashionable 
Amusements,"  in  the  Missionary  Magazine,  Vol.  II. ;  and 
also  of  "  Letters  to  the  Young,"  in  Vol.  IV.  of  the  same 
work. 

51.   REV.    SAMUEL    W.    COLBURN. 

[See  Members,  No.  35.] 


*  Panoplist  and  Miss.  Mag.,  Jan.,  1809. 


52.   REV.   NATHANIEL    RAWSON 

Was  the  son  of  Dea.  Nathaniel  and  Elizabeth  (Ndson) 
Rawson  of  Mendon,  where  he  was  born  26  Feb.,  1780.* 

He  received  a  good  academic  education,  but  did  not 
graduate,  and  studied  Theology  with  Rev.  Dr.  Emmons. 
He  was  ordained  in  Hardwick,  Vt.,  13  Feb.,  1811,  and  dis 
missed,  30  May,  1817.  He  then  preached,  until  1834,  as  a 
missionary,  in  Vermont,  New  Hampshire,  New  York,  and 
Canada.  Owing  to  bodily  infirmity,  he  removed  to  Hamp 
ton,  Ct.,  where  he  spent  the  rest  of  his  life  in  cultivating  a 
farm  which  belonged  to  his  second  wife.  He  was  killed  in 
stantly,  by  lightning,  while  raking  hay  in  his  field,  July, 
1845,  at  the  age  of  65. 

Mr.  Rawson  married!,  first,  Miss  Betsey  Fitch,  daughter 
of  Rev.  Elijah  Fitch,  of  Hopkinton.  His  second  wife  was 
Miss  Sarah  Piper,  of  Hampton,  Ct.  He  had  six  children  ; 
five  of  whom,  with  his  wife,  survived  him. 

"  He  was  a  large,  stout  man  ;  kind,  peaceable,  retiring,  and 
somewhat  melancholy  in  his  disposition.  His  mind  was  clear 
and  strong,  though  far  from  showy.  His  theological  views 
harmonized  closely  with  those  of  his  teacher,  Dr.  Emrnoiis. 

"  He  often  expressed  a  preference  for  a  death  without  any 
warning,  like,  that  from  a  stroke  of  lightning,  —  a  wish 
which,  in  his  case,  was  singularly  granted.  He  not  only  died 
in  a  moment,  but  was  buried  in  less  than  twenty-four  hours 
from  the  time  he  entered  his  field  in  health."f 


*  Dca.  N.  Rawson  was  the  son  of  Thomas  and  Anna  (Waldron) 
Rawson,  and  grandson  of  Wilson  and  Margaret  (Arthur,  of  Nantucket) 
Rawson,  who  was  the  son  of  Rev.  Grindal  Rawson,  of  Mendon,  whose 
father  was  Edward,  the  well  known  Secretary  of  the  Mass.  Colony. — 
/list,  and  Gcneal.  Register: 

t  Letter  of  Rev.  W.  Barnes,  of  Foxboro',  formerly  of  Hampton,  Ct. 


286      BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 


53.    MR.    ISAAC   PERKINS    LOWE. 

He  is  supposed  to  be  still  alive  ;  but  no  information  has 
been  obtained  of  him  or  about  him,  other  than  that  he  is  not 
a  graduate  of  any  college,  and  is  not  known  to  have  ever 
been  ordained. 


54.   REV.    MARTIN   MOORE 

Was  born  in  Sterling,  1790,  and  the  son  of  Jonathan  and 
Elizabeth  (Richardson)  Moore,  whose  ancestors  appear 
amongst  the  original  settlers  of  Sudbury.* 

He  graduated  at  Brown  Univ.,  1810,  and  A.  M.,  and  then 
took  charge  of  Wrentham  Academy  four  years ;  during  which 
time  he  studied  Theology  with  Rev.  E.  Fisk. 

He  was  ordained  in  Natick,  16  Feb.,  1814,  and  dismissed 
Aug.,  1833.  Installed  at  Cohasset,  4  Sept.,  1833,  and  dis 
missed,  Aug.,  1841.  In  Jan.,  1844,  he  became  editor  and 
proprietor  oft  he  "  Boston  Recorder  ;"  now  united  with  the 
"  New  England  Puritan,"  and  issued  as  the  "  Puritan  Re 
corder,"  with  which  paper  he  is  jointly  connected,  as  editor 
and  proprietor. 

Mr.  Moore  married  Miss  Sarah  Fisk,  of  Natick,  and  has 
several  children.  His  oldest  son,  Jonathan  F.,  graduated  at 
Middlebury,  1838,  and  is  a  Lawyer  in  Boston.  His  third 
son,  Francis  C.,  is  of  the  well-known  firm  of  Damrell  & 
Moore,  Printers,  Boston. 

Mr.  Moore  has  published  several  volumes  and  pamphlets. 
Among  them  are :  Memoir  of  Rev.  John  Elliot,  1822  ; 
2d  ed.,  1842  ;  History  of  Natick,  1817  ;  Memoir  of  Sophro- 
nia  Lawrence,  Boston  ;  Revival  of  1842,  with  a  History  of 
Evangelical  Religion  in  Boston  ;  the  "  Old  Way  of  the  Pil 
grims,"  1835. 


*  John  Moore  was  in  Sudbury  in  1643,  and  died,  6  June,  1G74.    He 
had  a  son  Jacob,  bom  1645. —  Farmer 


REV.     JOHN    B  U  R  T    WIGHT.  287 


55.   REV.    JOHN   HURT    WIGHT 

Was  born  in  Bristol,  E.  I.,  7  May,  1790,  and  was  the  son 
of  Rev.  Henry  Wight,  D.  D.*  His  mother  was  Alice  Bur- 
rington. 

He  graduated,  with  the  highest  honors  of  his  class,  at 
Brown  Univ.,  1808,  and  A.  M. ;  also  A.  M.,  at  Harvard, 
181G.  He  studied  Theology  with  Dr.  Emmons,  and  was  or 
dained  in  Wayland,  25  Jan.,  1815.  He  was  dismissed  in 
May,  1835.  He  was  next  settled  over  the  First  Congrega 
tional  church  in  Castine,  Me.,  from  1836  to  1839.  Then 
over  the  two  associated  churches,  in  Milford  and  Amherst, 
N.  II.,  from  1839  to  1841  ;  and  over  the  First  Congrega 
tional  church  in  North  Dennis,  from  1842  to  1846.  Since 
this  last  date,  he  has  resided  in  Wayland,  where  he  was  first 
settled. 

Mr.  Wight  married  Miss  Sarah  Grout,  of  Sudbury,  by 
whom  he  has  had  four  children :  Martha,  Henry,  Sarah,  and 
John. 

Henry  married  Miss  Isabella  Mann,  of  Orford,  Me.,  28 
May,  1848,  and  resides  in  Wayland. 

Sarah  was  married,  14  Jan.,  1852,  to  Mr.  Edward  P. 
Bond,  of  Boston.  They  reside  in  Kawai,  one  of  the  Sand 
wich  Islands. 

56.   REV.    JOSEFIIUS    WHEATON. 

[See  Sketches  of  Members,  No.  38.] 

*  Rev.  Dr.  Wight,  for  over  fifty  years  the  pastor  of  the  church  in 
Bristol,  R.  I.  :  and,  for  many  years,  was  one  of  the  Fellows  of  Brown 
Univ.  He  was  born  in  Medfield,  1752;  Harv.,  1782;  ordained,  5 
Jan.,  1785:  dis.,  11  Nov.,  1828;  and  died,  Aug..  1837,  aged  84. 

The  ancestral  line  is  as  follows  : 

1.  Thomas  Wight,  immigrant  from  the  Isle  of  Wight,  England,  1637. 

'2.  His  son,  Samuel  Wight,  of  Dedham.  3.  Jonathan  Wight. 
4.  Jonathan  Wight,  Jr.,  of  Medfield.  5.  Rev.  Henry  Wight,  D.  P.,  of 
Bristol.  6.  Rev.  John  B.  Wight,  of  Sndbury. 


288  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

57.    REV.    EMERSON   PAINE 

Was  born  in  Foxboro',  5  Dec.,  1786.  He  was  the  son  of 
Abiel  and  Cynthia  (Robinson)  Paine.* 

He  obtained  a  liberal  education  through  his  own  exertions, 
and  graduated  at  Brown  University,  in  1813  ;  studied  divin 
ity  with  Rev.  Dr.  Emmons  ;  and  was  ordained  in  Middle- 
boro',  14  Feb.,  181 G.  He  was  dismissed  by  a  Council,  called 
at  his  own  request,  4  June,  1822.  In  Nov.  20,  of  the,  same 
year,  he  was  installed  at  Little  Compton,  R.  I.,  whence  he 
was  dismissed,  on  account  of  his  health,  20  April,  1835. 
He  preached  again,  a  few  months,  in  Middleboro',  until 
invited  to  labor  in  Halifax,  where  he  continued  to  preach 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  26  April,  1851,  at  the  age 
of  65. 

Mr.  Paine  married  Miss  Lydia  Pendleton,  of  Dighton. 
who  still  resides  in  Halifax.  They  had  five  children,  of  whom 
four  survive. 

1.  Joseph  Emerson  :  m.  Eliza  Rebecca  Glover,  of  Milton, 
and  lives  in  New  York. 

2.  Charles  Henry;  m.  Mercy  Bryant,  of  Halifax,   and 
resides  in  that  town. 

3.  Horatio  Edwards  ;  m.  and  lives  in  Bridgewater. 

4.  Mary  Niles  ;  m.  to  William  Holmes,  of  Halifax,  and 
lives  there. 

"  Mr.  Paine  was  an  able  vindicator  of  Dr.  Emmons'^ 
Theology.  He  was  a  man  of  unblemished  reputation,  of  a 
benevolent  heart,  of  an  humble,  Christian  walk,  and  of  deep 
sympathy  for  his  people ;  but  a  Boanerges  to  the  sinner. 
'  in  the  hands  of  an  angry  God.'  His  great  topic  of  conso- 


*  His  father  and  grandfather,  both  named  William,  came  from  Mai 
den.  William  Paine,  Jr.  m.  Mary  Bull,  dau.  of  Jacob  Bull,  of  Dor 
chester.  He  and  his  wife  both  migrated  to  Mansfield  on  the  same  day. 
at  the  ages  of  15  and  13.  —  Mrs.  B.  S.  Paine. 


REV.    ENOCH    POND,     D  .    D  .  289 

lation  for  all  in  affliction  was,  full,  entire,  absolute,  and  un 
conditional  submission  to  the  will  of  God ;  perfect  trust  in 
Him,  as  infinitely  wise  and  good,  and  who  doeth  all  things 
well.  And  in  this  frame  of  mind  he  gave  up  his  spirit. 

A  volume  of  his  Sermons  has  been  printed,  and  they 
exhibit  deep  and  energetic  thought  and  true  orthodoxy."* 

He  published  a  4th  of  July  Oration  before  the  Students 
of  Brown  Univ.,  1813;  Farewell  Sermons  at  Middleboro', 
1822;  Funeral  Sermon  of  Mr.  S.  S.  Sturtevant,  Halifax, 
1839  ;  a  volume  of  Sermons,  8vo,  1842. 

58.   REV.    ENOCH   POND,   D.    D. 

Is  a  native  of  Wrentham,  north  parish,  where  he  was  born 
29  July,  1791.  His  parents  were  Dea.  Elijah  and  Mary 
(Smith)  Pond.f 

He  graduated  at  Brown  University  in  1813,  and  A.  M.  ; 
S.  T.  D.,  Dartmouth,  1835  ;  studied  Theology  with  Dr.  Em- 
mons,  and  was  ordained  at  Ward,  1  March,  1815.  He  resigned 
his  charge,  22  Oct.,  1828,  to  take  the  editorial  care  of  the 
"  Spirit  of  the  Pilgrims  ;  "  the  first  five  volumes  of  which 
were  published  under  his  supervision.  In  the  spring  of  1832, 
while  residing  at  Cambridge,  he  was  elected  Professor  of  sys 
tematic  Theology  in  the  Seminary  at  Bangor,  Me. ;  and  was 
inaugurated  in  the  autumn  following.  He  still  occupies  the 
Professor's  chair  in  that  institution,  —  a  post  filled  from  the 
beginning,  and  acceptably,  by  pupils  of  the  celebrated  Dr. 
Emmons. 

Dr.  Pond  married,  first,  Miss  Wealthy  M.  Hawes,  daugh 
ter  of  William  and  Eunice  Hawes  of  Wrentham.  She  died 
Sept.,  1824,  leaving  three  children :  the  youngest  of  whom 
was  Rev.  Enoch  Pond,  Jr.,  grad.  Bowdoin,  1838,  and  at  Ban 
gor,  and  was  settled  at  Georgetown,  where  he  died,  17  Dec., 

*  Puritan  Recorder,  15  May,  1851. 

t  For  paternal  ancestry,  see  Note  on  Rev.  Enoch  Pond,  Lie.  No.  17. 
25 


290     BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

1846,  aet,  26.  His  second  wife  was  Miss  Julia  Ann  Maltby, 
daughter  of  John  and  Elizabeth  Maltby  of  Northford,  Ct.,  and 
sister  of  Rev.  J.  Maltby  of  Bangor.  She  died  Sept.,  1838, 
leaving  five  children.  His  present  wife  was  Mrs.  Anne  M. 
Pearson  of  Bangor,  formerly  Miss  Anne  Mason  of  Dedham. 
Of  his  eight  children,  six  survive  and  are  all  hopefully 
pious. 

His  eldest  son  living,  Wm.  C.  Pond,  grad.  .at  Bowdoin, 
1849 ;  at  Bangor,  1852.  Was  ordained  as  evangelist,  and 
sailed,  13  Nov.,  1852,  as  missionary  for  California.  He  mar 
ried  Miss  Caroline  A.  Woodhull,  daughter  of  Rev.  R.  Wood- 
hull  of  Thomaston,  Me. 

His  second  son,  Jeremiah  E.,  is  in  Bowdoin  Col.,  preparing 
for  the  ministry. 

Dr.  Pond  is  the  author  of  several  valuable  contributions  to 
the  leading  Quarterlies,  and  religious  newspapers,  and  also 
has  published  some  distinct  volumes.  Review  of  Sweden- 
borgianism,  of  Millerism,  etc. 

59.      REV.   ALYAN    COBB. 

[See  Sketches  of  Members,  No.  37.] 

60.      KEY.   JONAS    PERKINS 

Was  born  in  North  Bridge  water  in  1790,  and  is  the  son 
of  Josiah,  Jr.  and  Anna  (Reynolds)  Perkins.* 

He  graduated  at  Brown  University,  1813,  and  A.  M.,  and 
studied  theology  with  Rev.  Otis  Thompson  of  Rehoboth.  He 
was  ordained  pastor  of  the  Union  church  of  Weymouth  and 
Braintree,  14  June,  1815.  He  still  remains  in  the  same  field, 
one  of  the  few  pastors  who,  in  these  unquiet  times,  have  the 
strength  i  to  sit  still.' 

*  He  descended  from  Mark  Perkins,  who  came  to  Bridgewatcr 
from  Ipswich,  1741.  His  eldest »on,  Josiah,  was  grandfather  to  Rev.  Jo 
nas  Perkins. 


REV.     STETSOX    RAYMOND.  291 

Mr.  Perkins  married  Miss  Rhoda  Keith,  daughter  of  Mr. 
Simeon  Keith  of  Bridgewater,  and  has  two  children. 

61.  REV.    STETSON  RAYMOND 

Is  a  native  of  Middleboro',  and  the  son  of  Samuel  Ray 
mond.* 

He  graduated  at  Brown  University,  1814,  and  A.  M.,  and 
studied  theology  with  Rev.  O.  Thompson  of  Rehoboth.  He 
was  ordained,  9  April,  1817,  at  Chatham,  and  dismissed  24 
June,  1829.  He  was  next  installed,  20  Sept.,  1829,  as  the 
first  minister  at  Assonet  in  Freetown,  whence  he  took  a  dis 
mission  Nov.,  1836.  He  was  settled,  1  Jan'y,  1837,  over  the 
Trinitarian  church  in  Bridgewater,  Scotland  parish,  and 
was  dismissed  1  April,  1851.  He  still  resides  in  that  place. 

Mr.  Raymond  married  Miss  Deborah  Loud,  daughter  of 
Mr.  Elliot  Loud  of  Weymouth.  He  has  four  children,  two 
sons  and  two  daughters. 

1.  Sophia  Loud,  m.  to  Mr.  Otis  Bullard  of  Boston. 

2.  Samuel  Elliot,  m.  Lucretia  Bryant  of  Bridgewater,  and 
resides  in  New  Bedford. 

3.  Francis  Henry,  in  Boston,  and  4.  Ann  Sarah,  at  home. 

62.  REV.   LOT    B.    SULLIVAN 

"Was  born  in  Wareham,  27  June,  1790.  His  Father  was 
Lot  Bumpas,  a  descendant  of  Edward  Bumpas  or  Bonpasse, 
of  Plymouth,  1623.  The  name  of  Sullivan  was  adopted  by 
himself. 

He  fitted  for  College  with  Rev.  Samuel  Wood,  D.  D., 
of  Boscawen,  N.  H.,  and  grad.  at  Brown  University,  1814. 


*  Samuel  R.  was  the  only  son  of  Ebenezer  Raymond,  who  married 
the  daughter  of  Rev.  Mr.  Fuller,  first  minister  of  Middleboro'. 


292      BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

He  studied  theology  with  Rev.  Otis  Thompson  of  Rehoboth. 
After  receiving  approbation  to  preach  the  Gospel,  he  went 
into  the  missionary  field  of  the  Western  Reserve,  Ohio.  He 
was  ordained  over  the  Congregational  and  Presbyterian 
church  in  Lyme,  Huron  Co.,  Ohio,  14  June,  1820.  He  la 
bored  here  until  19  Feb.,  1824,  when  he  left  and  preached  as  a 
stated  supply  in  Wellington,  and  Medina,  Loraine  Co.,  in  1824  ; 
and  in  Canfield,  Trumbull  Co.,  from  I  May,  1825,  to  1  May, 
1826.  Thence  he  preached  about  a  dozen  years  in  Durham- 
ville,  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  in  other  places  in  Western  New 
York.  His  health,  by  this  time,  in  a  great  measure  failed  him, 
and  he  returned  to  Massachusetts,  in  1840,  where  he  has 
since  been  able  to  labor  in  the  Gospel  occasionally.  He  is 
at  this  date,  1851,  supplying  the  pulpit  in  West  Tisbury, 
Martha's  Vineyard. 

Mr.  Sullivan  married  Miss  Lydia  Stetson  of  Scituate,  and 
has  four  children. 

63.   REV.    MOSES    PARTRIDGE 

Was  born  in  Medway,  or  Bellingham,  the  adjoining  town. 
He  graduated  at  Brown  University,  1814,  and  studied  The 
ology  with  Rev.  Dr.  Emmons.  After  his  approbation,  he 
engaged  in  the  service  of  the  Mass.  Missionary  Society. 

In  1817,  he  preached  some  time  in  Freetown,  and  then  , 
removed  to  Penobscot  Co.,  Me.,  where  he  preached,  some 
years,  under  the  same  commission.  On  his  return  to  Massa 
chusetts,  he  received  and  accepted  a  call  to  settle  over  the 
church  at  Manomet  Point,  Plymouth.  Within  a  short  time 
after  his  ordination  he  died,  25  Sept.,  1824,  aged  36. 

His  early  departure  was  universally  lamented,  as  the  loss 
of  a  devoted  and  faithful  laborer,  and  one  promising  great 
usefulness  amongst  the  people  to  whom  a  few  months  only 
had  greatly  endeared  him.  He  was  unmarried,  and  is  not 
known  to  have  left  any  printed  publications. 


MR.    JOHN    LUKE    PARKHURST.  293 


64.    MR.   JOHN   LUKE    PARKHURST 

Was  born  in  Framingham,  7  Sept.,  1789.  He  was  the  son 
of  Ephraim  and  Betsey  (Luke)  Parkhurst,  and  descendant 
of  George  Parkhurst,  one  of  the  immigrant  settlers  of  the 
town.* 

At  the  age  of  20,  he  began  the  business  of  school  teaching, 
in  East  Sudbury,  at  the  same  time  pursuing  his  studies; 
which  method  he  pursued  through  his  whole  course.  He 
entered  Brown  University  one  year  in  advance,  and  gradu 
ated  in  1812.  He  taught  school  in  Needham  the  remainder 
of  the  year  ;  and,  in  1814,  had  charge  of  Wrentham  Acade 
my.  He  studied  Theology  at  Andover ;  and,  after  appro 
bation  by  this  Association,  he  commenced  preaching  at 
Plymouth. 

The  exercise  of  speaking  in  public  affected  him  unpleas 
antly,  and  he  resigned  the  idea  of  settling  in  the  ministry, 
but  devoted  himself  to  his  favorite  employment  of  teaching, 
occupying  the  desk  occasionally,  as  Providence  called  him. 

He  was,  in  succession,  Preceptor  of  the  Academies  at  Am- 
herst,  from  5  Dec.,  1817  to  the  fall  of  1819  ;  of  Plainfield, 
N.  II.,  until  May,  1821 ;  and  of  Gilmanton,  N.  H.,  until  29 
Apl.,  1825.  He  then  spent  a  year  in  a  Monitorial  School,  at 
Wiscasset,  Me.,  and  returned  to  Gilmanton  Academy,  where 
he  continued  until  Aug.,  1832.  In  the  mean  time,  he  vigo 
rously  applied  his  pen  to  raising  the  standard  of  Common 
Schools,  and  also  had  the  editorial  care  of  the  Christian  Mir 
ror,  Portland,  in  1826. 


*  The  ancestral  line  of  the  family  is  as  follows  :  Ephraira  Parkhurst, 
h.  1765,  was  the  son  of  Josiah  and  Elizabeth  (Bigelow)  P.,  b.  1737, 
who  was  the  son  of  Josiah  and  Sarah  (Carter)  P.,  b.  1706,  who  was  the 
son  of  John  and  Abigail  (Morse)  P.,  b.  1671,  who  was  the  son  of  John 

and  Abigail ,  b.  1644,  who  was  the  son  of  George  and  Sara  (Brown) 

P.,  b.  about  1618,  who  was  the  son  of  George  and  Susanna  P.,  immigrant 
ancestors.  —  Hist.  Framingham,  p.  352. 

25* 


294:  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

After  leaving  Gilmanton,  in  1832,  he  opened  a  family- 
school  for  boys,  in  Portland,  which  continued  two  years.  He 
then  removed  to  Standish,  Me.,  and  taught  a  family  boarding 
school,  until  May,  1843.  His  vigor  now  declined,  and  he 
withdrew  to  a  small  farm  in  Gorham,  Me.,  where  he  closed 
his  life,  20  May,  1850. 

Four  years  before  his  death,  he  was  deprived,  by  a  para 
lytic  stroke,  of  the  use  of  his  right  hand.  This  led  him  to  the 
study  of  Phonography,  and  to  teaching  it  to  his  children. 
He  finally  died  of  consumption,  in  his  conscious  intervals  re 
joicing  in  the  end  of  his  laborious  career.  His  grave-stone 
has  this  simple  inscription  :  — 

DIED.   «K)1IX    I,.   I'ARKIIURST,    MAY    50,    1850. 
AGED    61. 

Mr.  Parkhurst  married,  30  Aug.,  1819,  Persis  Goodale, 
daughter  of  Dea.  Abner  and  Mary  Goodale,  of  Marlboro'. 
She  died  at  Wiscasset,  Me.,  25  Jan.,  1829,  aged  34,  leaving 
three  sons.  His  second  wife  was  Maria  C.,  daughter  of 
James  and  Sarah  Harriman,  of  Wiscasset.  She  now  lives, 
a  widow,  in  Gardiner,  Me.  His  children  are  as  follows  : 

1.  William  Goodale ;  married,  and  is  an  assistant  phono 
graphic  reporter,  at  Washington,  D.  C. 

2.  Henry  Martyn  ;  m.,  and  has  been  phonographic  reporter 
for  the  Senate  four  years. 

3.  Edward  Warren  ;  m.,  and  is  fancy  painter  at  Gardiner, 
Me. 

4.  John  Thurston  ;  farmer,  Gorham,  Me. 

5.  Sarah  Elizabeth  ;  Assistant  to  her  brother  Henry  M., 
as  reporter. 

6.  Charles    Stewart ;    resides   in   Bath,  apprentice  to  a 
painter. 

7.  Leonard  Woods  ;  resided  on  a  farm,  in  Gorham. 

8.  Alpheus  Crosby  ;  similarly  employed  in  the  same  town. 

9.  Melville  Cox ;  resides  with  his  mother,  in  Gardiner. 


MR.   JOHN   LUKE   PABKHUEST.  295 

Mr.  Parkhurst  published  several  school-books  and  treatises 
upon  education  ;  1.  A  Systematic  Introduction  to  English 
Grammar,  1820.  2.  The  Teachers'  Guide  and  Parents' As 
sistant,  1821.  3.  Elements  of  Moral  Philosophy,  1832, 
which  passed  through  two  editions.  4.  First  Lessons  in 
Reading  and  Spelling,  two  editions.  5.  English  Grammar 
for  beginners,  1838.  G.  First  Lessons  in  Latin.  He  also 
compiled  a  little  work,  containing  «  Letters  on  Marriage,  by 
Dr.  Witherspoon."* 

Mr.  Parkhurst  was  of  unexceptionable  piety,  and  singly 
devoted  to  the  good  of  his  fellow  beings. 

As  a  preacher,  though  he  was  not  popular,  he  was  correct, 
logical,  and  very  systematic  in  the  exhibition  of  Divine 
truth.  His  Moral  Philosophy,  worthy  of  a  reprint,  exhibits 
his  mental  structure,  —  his  exactness,  and  discrimination,  and 
reverence  for  revealed  truth. 

His  very  precision  and  exactness,  however,  were  so  refined 
as  to  diminish  much  from  his  influence  and  usefulness.  He 
could  not  conform  to  others,  even  in  little  things,  nor  touch 
men  at  points  enough  to  make  definite  impressions.  His 
metaphysical  ideas  were  often  too  abstract  for  practical  pur 
poses,  ancl^gave  such  a  fixedness  to  his  manners  and  habits  as 
allowed  no  deviation,  even  in  things  indifferent.  He  would 
carry  a  fish  from  the  market  to  his  house,  borne  horizontally 
in  his  two  hands,  as  one  would  carry  an  infant,  because  this 
was  its  natural  position  in  its  native  element.  All  things 
with  him  had  their  reason,  sometimes  many  reasons.  Such 
niceties  probably  interfered  with  his  immediate  usefulness, 
by  making  first  impressions  unfavorable,  —  yet  his  life  was 
by  no  means  unimpressive  or  useless.  As  a  teacher  of  youth, 
he  made  impressions  permanent  as  existence,  and  the 
happy  influences  of  his  care  and  instructions  are  still  spoken  of 


Mrs.  M.  C.  Parkhurst,  Gardiner,  Me. 


296     BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

in  the  highest  terms  by  parents  who  placed  their  children  in 
his  family  school.* 

65.   REV.    WILLARD   HOLBROOK 

Is  a  native  of  Uxbridge,  but  early  removed  to  Button. 
His  father  was  Stephen  Holbrook,t  a  native  of  Bellingham. 
His  mother,  still  living  in  Sutton,  was  Mary,  daughter  of 
Jesse  Penniman,  of  Mendon. 

He  prepared  for  College,  in  part,  at  the  Sutton  Grammar 
School,  under  Mr.  Hall,  son  of  Dr.  D.  Hall,  partly  at  Lei 
cester,  and  finally  with  Rev.  Mr.  Goffe,  of  Millbury.  He 
entered  the  second  class  in  Brown  University,  and  graduated, 
1814,  and  A.  M.  He  studied  theology  with  Rev.  Dr.  Em- 
mons,  and  at  his  suggestion,  completed  a  regular  course  at 
Andover,  1817. 

He  engaged  as  missionary  six  months,  at  Nottingham 
West,  N.  H.,  now  Hudson,  where  he  declined  an  invitation 
to  settle  as  pastor.  He  commenced  preaching  at  Rowley, 
the  first  Sabbath  in  April,  1818,  and  was  ordained  there  22 
July,  1818.  He  was  honorably  dismissed,  12  May,  1840, 
and  installed  over  the  church  at  Millville,  in  Mandon,  now 
Blackstone,  18  Aug.,  1841,  where  he  was  dismissed,  19  Feb., 
1850.  In  April  following,  he  removed  to  his  own  house,  in 
Rowley,  where  he  still  lives.  Since  March,  1851,  he  has 
supplied  the  pulpit  of  the  West  parish,  in  Ipswich,  (Line- 
brook). 

Mr.  Holbrook  married  Miss  Margaret  Crocker,  daughter 
of  Mr.  John  Crocker,  and  his  wife  Margaret  (Choate)  Crock 
er,  aunt  of  Hon.  Rufus  Choate.  She  and  her  parents  were 
natives  of  Ipswich,  but  early  removed  to  Derry,  N.  H. 

*  Letters  of  Rev.  Drs.  Pond,  of  Bangor,  and  Cummings,  of  Portland. 

t  Stephen  Holbrook  was  son  of  Stephen,  who  was  a  son  of  Simeon, 

a  descendant  of  Dea.  Peter  Holbrook,  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Mendon. 


11  E  V  .    ABEL   MANNING.  297 

They  have  had  six  children,  of  whom  the  three  youngest, 
daughters,  died  in  infancy. 

Amory,  the  eldest,  grad.  Bowdoin  Coll.,  1841,  studied  law 
with  Hon.  Rufus  Choate,  and  Judge  Perkins,  of  Salem,  and 
has  been  for  over  two  years,  District  Attorney  for  Oregon. 

2.  John  Crocker;  died  in  1829,  at  7  years  of  age. 

3.  Willard  R. ;  is  merchant  in  New  York. 
Mr.  Holbrook  has  issued  no  publications. 

66.   REV.   ABEL   MANNING 

Was  born  in  Sterling,  March,  1788,  but  pursued  his 
studies  in  the  adjoining  town  of  Holden,  and  he  is  men 
tioned  as  an  inhabitant  of  Holden  in  the  history  of  Holden 
by  Rev.  S.  C.  Damon. 

He  graduated  at  Brown  University,  1817,  and  imme 
diately  commenced  the  study  of  theology  with  Rev.  Dr. 
Emmons. 

He  commenced  preaching  in  Candia,  N.  H.,  thence  went  to 
Pittsfield,  and  afterwards  to  Goffstown,  in  the  same  State, 
where  his  labors  of  several  months  were  blessed  with  an  in 
teresting  revival  and  the  hopeful  conversion  of  nearly  a 
hundred  souls.  He  left  Goffstown  for  Plymouth,  Vt,  as  a 
missionary  to  a  small  and  feeble  church,  which  had  never  en 
joyed  a  settled  ministry.  An  extensive  revival  prepared  the 
way  for  his  settlement,  and  he  was  ordained  at  Plymouth, 
8  Nov.,  1820 :  where  he  continued  until  dismissed,  May, 
1824,  by  an  ecclesiastical  council,  for  want  of  support. 

After  laboring  two  years  in  Goshen  and  vicinity,  as  a 
missionary  of  the  N.  H.  Miss.  Society,  he  was  employed 
nearly  five  years,  by  the  Presbyterian  church  at  Chester, 
now  Auburn.  But  as  they  were  feeble  and  he  was  "  no  Pres 
byterian,"  he  was  not  installed.  He  next  preached  three 
years  in  Epsom,  and  again  three  years  in  Ossipee;  all  in 
N.  I!.,  and  excepting  Chester,  missionary  ground. 


298  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

In  1838,  Mr.  Manning  came  to  Dartmouth  in  this  State, 
and  labored  there  a  year,  as  the  successor  of  Rev.  T.  T. 
Richmond.  In  1839,  he  preached  for  a  season  in  Barring- 
ton,  R.  L,  and  then  returned  again  to  his  former  fields  of  la 
bor  inN.  Hampshire,  where  he  preached  until  1844.  Since 
this  last  date  he  has  preached  but  occasionally.  He  now  re 
sides  in  Pembroke,  N.  H. 

His  wife  was  Miss  Mary  Little  of  Goffstown,  N.  II. 

They  have  had  no  children. 

G7.   REV.    WILLIAM    TYLER 

Is  the  oldest  son  of  Ebenezer  Tyler,  Esq.,  late  of  Paw- 
tucket,*  and  was  born  in  Attleboro',  7  Jan.,  1789. 

He  graduated  at  Brown  Univ.,  1809,  and  studied  theology 
with  Rev.  Dr.  Emmons.  He  was  settled  over  the  second 
church  in  Wey mouth,  24  Feb'y,  1819,  dismissed  17  Oct., 
1831 ;  Installed  at  South  Hadley  Falls,  10  Aug.,  1832,  and 
dismissed  in  1839,  by  the  same  council  which  ordained  his 
successor,  Rev.  W.  W.  Thayer.  He  afterwards  preached  in 
Pelham,  New  Salem,  Erving  and  Shutesbury.  For  some 
time  he  resided  in  Northampton,  but  is  now  at  Pawtucket. 
Mr.  Tyler  married  Betsey,  daughter  of  Jacob  Balcom,  Esq., 
of  Attleboro'.  She  died  at  Weymonth,  9  June,  1822,  aged 
32,  leaving  one  son,  William  Ebenezer ;  who  graduated  at 
Amherst  Coll.,  Oct.,  1844,  and  is  now  a  teacher  in  Jasper,  Steu- 
ben  Co.,  N.  Y.  His  second  and  present  wife  is  Nancy  W., 
daughter  of  Mr.  Ebenezer  Newell  of  Natick,  who  has  six 
children,  four  sons  and  two  daughters.  Elizabeth,  resides  at 
home.  The  second  daughter,  Annie  N.,  is  a  teacher  at  Fair- 
mount,  near  Cincinnati,  O.  Henry  E.  is  clerk  with  a  dis- 

*The  immigrant  ancestor  of  Mr.  Tyler  was  Job  Tyler,  b.  1619; 
came  to  N.  E.,  1639,  and  was  one  of  the  original  proprietors  of  And  over. 
He  afterwards  settled  in  Memlon.  His  grandson,  Ebenezer.  removed 
from  Mendon  to  Attleboro',  1709,  and  was  great  grandfather  to  Rev. 
William  Tyler. 


BEV.    JONATHAN    LONGLEY.  299 

ponsing  apothecary  in  Providence,  R.  I.    The  Junior  mem 
bers  of  his  family  are,  Evarts  C.,  clerk  in  a  drug  house,  N.  Y. 
city.     Edmund  W.,  bookbinder.    Francis  M.  W.,  at  home. 
Mr.  Tyler  has  issued  no  publications. 

G8.    REV.    JONATHAN   LONGLEY, 

The  son  of  James  and  Polly  Longley,  was  born  in 
Boy  1st  on,  1790. 

In  1811,  he  entered  Harvard  University;  but  straitened 
pecuniary  circumstances  did  not  permit  him  to  graduate. 
Endowed,  however,  with  great  perseverance,  he  pressed  on 
wards,  and  commenced  the  study  of  Theology  with  Dr. 
Emmons. 

After  approbation,  in  1819,  he  preached,  for  different  pe 
riods  of  time,  in  various  places.  He  was  never  married,  and 
never  settled  in  the  pastoral  office.  Much  of  his  time,  he 
was  engaged  collecting  facts  and  s-tatistics  relating  to  the  in 
terests  of  religion  and  the  church  of  Christ.  He  died  in 
Northbridge,  20  Jan.,  1850,  aged  60  years. 

(  Mr.  Longley  was  assiduous  in  cultivating  his  mental  abili 
ties  ;  and,  assisted  by  a  remarkably  tenacious  memory,  his 
treasure  of  knowledge,  particularly  of  facts  and  dates,  was 
large  and  always  available.  His  sermons,  although  system 
atic  and  cohering,  were  unadorned,  and,  to  popular  taste, 
unattractive.  He  was  not  a  popular  preacher.  He  lacked 
the  allurements  of  an  attractive  delivery.  His  "  neglect  of 
the  cultivation  of  a  polished  manner,"  and  consequent  "  want 
of  the  amenities  of  refined  life,"  coupled  with  his  characteris 
tic  modesty,  probably  alone  prevented  him  from  being  a  most 
effective  preacher. 

His  intimate  acquaintance  with  the  Bible  was  unusual. 
He  was  equally  at  home  in  all  its  parts,  and  could  give 
the  exact  phrase  and  locality  of  particular  passages,  to  a 
surprising  extent.  His  friendships  were  few,  but  the  few 


800  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

were  mutually  prized  and  cherished.  Singularly  conscien 
tious  in  his  piety,  he  cautiously  lived  and  peacefully  died, 
lamented  by  his  brethren  and  friends,  but  welcomed  by  his 
Redeemer  in  a  better  world.* 

69.    REV.    DAVID    BR1GIIAM 

Is  the  son  of  Mr.  David  and  Lucy  H.  Brigham,  of  West- 
boro',  where  he  was  born,  3  Sept.,  1794.f 

He  graduated  at  Union  Coll.,  N.  Y.,  1818,  and  studied 
Theology  with  Rev.  Dr.  Emmons  and  Rev.  J.  Ide,  D.  D., 
of  Medway. 

He  was  ordained  over  the  church  in  East  Randolph,  29 
Dec.,  1819,  and  was  dismissed,  15  Nov.,  183G,  to  take  pas. 
toral  charge  of  the  church  in  Framingham,  where  he  was 
installed,  29  Dec.,  1836.  He  was  dismissed,  14  May,  1844, 
and  was  settled  in  Bridge  water,  23  April,  1845,  where  he 
now  labors. 

His  wife  was  Eliza  H.  Durfee,  daughter  of  Charles  and 
Welthe  Durfee,  of  Fall  River. 

Mr.  Brigham  has  published  a  Funeral  Sermon  of  Miss 
Mehitable  Torrey,  1847. 

70.    REV.    ZOLVA    WHITMORE 

Is  a  native  of  Rutland,  Yt. 

He  graduated  at  Union  College,  1818,  and  studied  The 
ology  with  Rev.  Dr.  Emmons.  He  was  ordained  and  set 
tled  at  North  Guilford,  Ct.,  5  Sept.,  1821.  He  was  dismissed 


#  Congregationalist,  Feb.,  1850. 

f  Mr.  Brigham's  ancestral  line  is :  his  father,  David,  who  was  the 
son  of  Jonas,  the  son  of  David,  the  son  of  Thomas,  the  son  of  Thomas 
Brigham,  immigrant  ancestor  from  the  south  of  Scotland,  1G34.  and 
original  settler  in  Sudbury.  Thomas  Brigham  married  '  Mercie  Ilurd.' 
—  Rev.  D.  BrigJiam. 


KEY.     SILAS     SHORES.  301 

thence,  31  August,  1846,  after  a  pastorate  of  25  years.  He 
next  labored,  as  stated  supply,  in  Heath,  from  Nov.,  1848  to 
June,  1851,  when  he  was  installed  pastor  of  the  church  in 
Becket,  18  Feb.,  1852,  and  there  now  resides. 

71.    REV.    SEWALL    HARDING. 

[See  Sketches  of  Members,  No.  61.] 

72.    REV.   SILAS    SHORES 

Was  the  son  of  Mr.  Benjamin  and  Jemima  Shores,  of 
West  Taunton,  and  was  born  there,  1  Sept.,  1784. 

He  studied  the  Classics  with  Rev.  A.  Cobb,  of  Taunton ; 
but  did  not  graduate  at  any  college.  He  pursued  the  study 
of  theology  with  Rev.  Mr.  Cobb,  and  Rev.  Otis  Thomson  of 
Rehoboth.  After  approbation,  he  was  settled,  31  July,  1822, 
at  Falmouth,  Second  church,  and  was  dismissed,  June,  1828. 
After  laboring  in  various  places,  he  was  engaged,  as  stated 
supply  in  Shutesbury,  in  1834,  where  he  continued  to  preach 
occasionally  until  his  death,  10  Feb.,  1844,  aged  60. 

Mr.  Shores  married  Miss  Abigail  Stacy,  of  West  Taunton, 
11  Dec.,  1822,  and  left  three  children,  a  son  and  two  daugh 
ters,  now  residents  of  Shutesbury. 

"  Mr.  Shores  was  a  man  of  good  judgment  and  of  remark 
ably  exemplary  piety;  gifted  in  conversation,  and  never 
weary  in  trying  to  persuade  people  to  love  the  doctrines  of 
the  Gospel.  He  seemed  to  be  so  absorbed  in  this,  as  to  for 
get  there  was  anything  temporal  to  care  for.  So  the  Lord 
took  him  home."* 

73.   REV.  JOHN   M.   PUTNAM 

Is  a  native  of  Sutton,  and  the  son  of  Dea.  Reuben  and 

*  Rev.  J.  Tisdale,  Shutesbury. 
26 


802      BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

Elizabeth  (Mason)  Putnam.  His  parents  were  both  of  the 
orthodox  faith,  and  strictly  pious. 

He  served  an  apprenticeship  as  painter  at  "Worcester,  and 
indulged  a  hope  at  1 6  years  of  age.  On  his  majority,  he 
commenced  study  at  Kimball  Union  Acad.,  Plainfield,  N.  H., 
and  after  two  years,  entered  Brown  University,  but  was 
obliged  to  leave  from  ill  health.  After  partial  restoration,  he 
studied  theology  with  Rev.  Dr.  Ide. 

He  commenced  preaching  at  Ashby,  June  1820,  the  week 
after  being  approbated,  and  was  ordained  13  Dec.,  1820,  over 
the  church  and  Society  newly  seceded  from  the  town. 

In  1822,  this  church  was  visited  by  a  precious  revival,  and 
received  over  fifty  members.  After  five  years'  labors,  Mr. 
Putnam's  voice  failed,  and  he  was  dismissed,  1 3  December, 
1825,  to  the  mutual  regret  of  pastor  and  people. 

Supposing  his  ministerial  labor  done,  he  removed  to  Keene, 
N.  H.,  and  established  a  religious  newspaper,  called  the 
"  New  England  Observer,"  which,  after  six  months,  was 
united  with  the  "  N.  H.  Repository,"  under  the  title  of  "  Re 
pository  and  Observer."  A  year's  respite  so  far  restored  his 
voice  that  he  transferred  the  paper  to  other  hands  *  and  com 
menced  preaching  at  Epsom,  N.  H.,  where  he  was  installed, 
1  Nov.,  1827. 

This  was  a  feeble  church,  and  though  the  connection  was 
harmonious,  he  was  obliged  to  leave,  12  May,  1830,  for  want 
of  support. 

The  next  sabbath,  he  preached  at  Dunbarton,  N.  H., 
where  he  was  installed,  8  July,  1830,  by  the  s^me  council 
which  dismissed  his  predecessor,  Rev.  Dr.  Harris.  In  1837, 
he  requested  dismission  on  account  of  his  health,  but  the 
request  was  declined  by  the  church.  After  a  few  weeks,  he 


*  Tobias  H.  Miller  removed  the  office  to  Portsmouth.  In  1835,  it 
was  published  at  Concord,  and  the  name  changed  to  "  Christian  Pano 
ply,"  which  it  bore  until  1840. 


REV.     GEORGE     FISHER.  303 

returned  to  his  labors,  which  he  has  since  been  able  to  per 
form  to  this  date,  with  only  three  sabbaths'  interruption. 

Mr.  Putman  married  Arethusa,  daughter  of  David  and 
Lucy  (Harrington)  Brigham,  of  Westboro',  and  sister  of 
Rev.  D.  Brigham,  of  Bridgewater.  Of  their  eight  children, 
two  only  survive ;  a  son,  George  Augustus,  now  at  Plain- 
field  Academy,  and  looking  to  the  ministry  ;  and  a  daughter, 
elder,  Antoinette  B.,  one  of  the  first  class  of  teachers  who 
went  to  the  West  under  the  Nat.  Popular  Ed.  Soc'y.  She 
has  lately  returned  to  Dunbarton. 

Mr.  Putnam's  publications  have  been ;  1.  Ordination 
Sermon  of  R.  A.  Putnam,  Fitchburg,  4  Feb.,  1824.  2.  S. 
S.  Address,  Dunbarton,  4  July,  1831.  3.  Thanksgiving 
Sermon,  1832.  4.  Sermon  on  Divine  Sovereignty  and 
Man's  Free  Agency,  1833.  5.  Address  before  Concord 
Female  Anti-Slavery  Soc.,  1835.  6.  Dedication  Sermon, 
Dunbarton,  1836.  7.  Sermon  on  "  Communion  with  Extor 
tioners,"  1838.  8.  Do.  on  «  Christian  Courage,"  1839.  9.  A 
Sermon  on  the  Death  of  Rev.  W.  Harris,  D.  D.,  1844. 
10.  Sermon  on  Future  Punishment,  1845.  11.  Historical 
Sermon,  Dunbarton,  1845.  12.  Sermon  on  Civil  Govern 
ment,  1851.  Also,  "  English  Grammar,"  with  an  Improved 
Syntax,  1825;  4  Editions  Comprehensive  Grammar,  and 
Analysis ;  in  which  he  was  co-editor  with  Rev.  H.  D.  Hodge, 
1848,  two  editions. 

74.    REV.    GEORGE    FISHER 

Was  born  in  Wrentham,  and  is  the  son  of  Luther  and 
Betsey  Fisher,  grandson  of  James,  and  the  great  grandson  of 
Ebenezer  Fisher,  all  of  Wrentham. 

He  graduated  at  Brown  University,  1819,  and  A.  M.  in 
course :  studied  theology  with  Rev.  Dr.  Ide,  and  was  ordained 
over  the  second  church  in,  Harvard,  12  Sept.,  1821,  where  he 
still  continues  in  office. 


304      BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

Mr.  Fisher  married  Miss  Mary  Hall  Fisk,  eldest  daugh 
ter  of  Rev.  Elisha  Fisk,  of  Wrentham,  by  whom  he  has 
had  five  children. 

1.  George   Elisha ;  grad.  Amherst,  1846,  and   Andover, 
1849;    and  settled  at   Rutland,  Feb.,  1850.    He  married 
Miss  Harriet  B.  Holt,  of  Amherst.     Mr.  Fisher  is  now  set 
tled  at  North  Amherst. 

2.  Mary  Robinson :  married  to  Mr.  Andrew  Farwell,  of 
Harvard. 

3.  Elizabeth  Smith,  4,  Harriet  Fiske,  5,  Henry  Martyn. 
reside  at  home. 

Mrs.  Fisher  died,  29  April,  1852. 

Mr.  Fisher  has  published:  1.  Funeral  Sermon  of  Rev. 
James  Howe,  Senior  Pastor  at  Pepperell,  21  July,  1840. 

75.  REV.  JOHN   FERGUSON. 

[See  Sketches  of  Members,  No.  42.] 

76.  REV.  MOSES    THATCHER. 

[See  Sketches  of  Members,  No.  43.] 

77.  REV.  AUGUSTUS   B.  REED 

Was  a  native  of  Rehoboth,  and  born  19  Nov.,  1798.* 
He  became  a  subject  of  renewing  grace  when  he  was  18 
years  old,  and  made  a  public  profession  of  religion  the  follow 
ing  summer,  4  May,  1817.  Hereupon  he  turned  his  pur 
poses  from  the  profession  of  law  to  preparing  for  the  Gospel 
ministry,  and  entered  Brown  University,  whence  he  gradu 
ated,  1821,  and  A.  M.,  in  course,  with  the  reputation  of  being 
"  a  diligent,  accurate  and  punctual  scholar."  He  studied 
theology  with  Rev.  Otis  Thompson  of  Rehoboth,  and  was 


*  His  father,  Dea.  E.  A.  Reed  and  his  maternal  grandfather,  Deacon 
Brown,  were  deacons  in  the  Cong,  church  at  Rehoboth.  His  paternal 
grandfather  was  deacon  in  the  Cong,  church  in  Dighton. 


KEY.    AUGUSTUS    B.    REED.  305 

ordained  the  first  pastor  of  the  first  Cong,  church  in  Fall 
River,  2  July,  1823.  He  was  dismissed  2  April,  1825. 

In  1826,  July  19,  he  was  installed  in  Ware.  His  health 
became  gradually  impaired,  —  with  intervals  of  returning 
strength,  —  but  he  felt  himself  sinking  under  his  labors,  and 
finally  asked  a  dismission.  The  pastoral  relation  was  sev 
ered  5  June,  1838.  Soon  after,  he  died  in  Ware,  30  Sept., 
1838,  aged  39  years. 

Mr.  Reed  left  a  wife  and  five  children  to  mourn  his  early 
departure.  Her  name  was  Melinda  Boyden,  daughter  of  the 
late  William  Boyden,  Esq.,  of  Fall  River.*  She  is  now  the 
wife  of  Mr.  Nathaniel  Eddy,  of  Middleboro'. 

Mr.  Reed's  children  were, 

1.  Theodora  C. ;  resides  in  Middleboro'  with  her  mother. 

2.  Delight  Brown;  died  at  Fall  River,  29  Oct.,  1849,  aet. 
21  years. 

3.  William  Augustus ;  in  mercantile  business,  in  Westfield. 

4.  John  Richard  ;  book-keeper  in  Fall  River. 

5.  Theophilus ;  died  at  Westfield,  23  Aug.,  1843,  aged  7 
years. 

Two  children  died  previous  to  his  own  death. 

Mr.  Reed's  ministry  was  too  short  to  bear  much  fruit ;  yet 
the  first  year  of  his  labors  in  Ware  was  blest  with  an  exten 
sive  revival,  and  the  addition  of  about  seventy  members  to 
the  church. 

"As  a  scholar,  Mr.  Reed  was  diligent,  accurate,  punc 
tual.  His  standing  in  his  class  was  above  mediocrity.  He 
loved  the  sound  doctrines  of  the  Gospel,  and  he  loved  them 
unto  the  end.  He  preached  them  with  plainness  and  per 
spicuity  ;  dwelling  upon  the  truths  most  displeasing  to  the 
carnal  mind  with  the  more  distinctness  and  frequency.  He 
was  a  better  writer  than  speaker."f 

*  The  first  Gong,  church  in  Fall  River  was  formed  at  the  house  of 
Mrs.  Reed's  grandfather,  Dea.  Richard  Durfee. 
t  See  Funeral  Sermon,  by  Rev.  L.  Packard,  Spencer. 
26* 


806      BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

In  temperament  he  was  ardent,  earnest  and  sympathizing. 
None  of  his  sermons  have  appeared  in  print. 

78.    KEY.  LEVI   PACKARD 

Was  born  in  North  Bridgewater  in  1793.  He  is  the  son 
of  Levi  and  Ruth  P.,  and  is  the  sixth  in  direct  descent  from 
Samuel  Packard,  who  came  from  Windham,  near  Hingham, 
England,  in  the  «  Diligent,"  and  settled  in  Hingham,  1638.* 

Mr.  Packard  graduated  at  Brown  University,  1821,  and 
A.  M. ;  studied  theology  with  Rev.  Dr.  Ide  of  Medway,  and 
was  ordained  at  Spencer,  14  June,  1826.  He  still  "  dwells 
among  his  own  people." 

Mr.  Packard  married  Clarissa  Sanford,  the  daughter  of 
Mr.  Philo  Sanford,  of  Medway,  and  sister  of  Rev.  David 
Sanford,  of  Medway  Village. 

His  oldest  living  son,  Levi  Sewell,  is  now  an  undergraduate 
of  Amherst  College. 

79.   REV.  JAMES    O.  BARNEY. 

[See  Sketches  of  Members,  No.  44.] 

80.   REV.  HENRY   HARRISON   FAYETTE    SWEET 

Was  born  in  Attleboro',  1  Nov.,  1796,  and  was  the  only 
son  of  Henry  and  Lucinda  Sweet. 

He  was  converted,  and  joined  the  church,  under  Rev.  N. 
Holman,  in  1816 ;  graduated  at  Brown  University,  1822,  and 
studied  theology  with  Rev.  Dr.  Ide. 

He  was  ordained  at  Palmer,  9  Nov.,  1825.  He  died,  28 
Feb.,  1827,  in  his  31st  year.  The  last  sermon  he  preached 

was  upon  the  anniversary  of  his  ordination. 

— — — — 

*  The  ancestral  line  is:  I.  Samuel  Packer  or  Packard,  of  England. 
2.  Zacheus,  m.  Sarah  Howard.  3.  David,  b.  1687,  m.  Hannah  Ames. 
4.  Abiah,  b.  1727,  m.  Phebe  Paine.  5.  Levi,  b.  1761,  m.  Ruth  Snow  of 
Eastham.  6.  Rev.  Levi,  of  Spencer.  —  Mitchell's  Bridgewater. 


REV.     JAMES    TISDALE.  307 

He  left  only  a  widow,  formerly  Miss  Elizabeth  Henshaw,  of 
Roxbury,  now  the  wife  of  Mr.  Cyrus  Merrick,  of  Sturbridge. 

As  a  man,  Mr.  Sweet  was  gentle,  unassuming,  and  kind  in 
his  manners  and  intercourse  with  others.  His  mind,  though 
not  brilliant,  was  above  the  ordinary  level,  —  patient,  logical, 
fully  grasping,  and  thoroughly  understanding  its  themes  of 
thought. 

As  a  preacher,  he  was  interesting  and  impressive. 

He  was  thoroughly  Calvinistic  in  his  doctrinal  views. 

As  a  pastor  he  was  solemn,  deliberate,  wise.  He  particu 
larly  excelled  in  the  conference  meeting,  and  in  his  interest 
in  the  lambs  of  the  flock.* 

81.  REV.   TYLER    THACHER. 

[See  Sketches  of  Members,  No.  64.] 

82.   REV.   JAME8    TISDALE 

Was  born  in  West  Taunton,  7  Nov.,  1799.  He  is  the  son 
of  James  Tisdale,  Esq.  and  of  his  wife  Abigail  (Freeman) 
Tisdale.  His  mother  was  from  Norton.f 

He  graduated  at  Brown  University,  1821;  and  then  taught 
an  academy,  during  the  two  years  following,  at  Darlington 

*  Funeral  Sermon  by  Rev.  Dr.  Nelson,  Leicester. 

t  Mr.  Tisdale  descended  from  John  Tisdale,  of  Taunton,  by  the  fol 
lowing  line :  his  father,  James  Tisdale  (1740 — 1811)  was  the  son  of  Job, 
who  died,  19  May,  1755,  act.  47.  His  father  was  Capt.  Joseph,  Jr.j 
(1682 — 1739)  the  son  of  Joseph,  who  died  about  1722.  Joseph  was  the 
son  of  John  Tisdale,  of  Duxbury,  1636  ;  afterwards  of  Taunton,  1653. 
In  1655,  he  was  constable,  and  afterwards  selectman  and  deputy  to 
Plymouth  Court.  He  was  killed  by  the  Indians,  at  Taunton  (now 
Raynham),  27  June.  1675. 

In  the  Plymouth  Court  Records  is  the  following  item:  —  "1638. 
John  Tisdale,  upon  the  good  report  made  of  him  and  of  his  good  car- 
ryage,  is  allowed  to  keepe  house  and  plant  for  himself,  provided  that  he 
shall  continue  his  carryage  still."  —  Mr.  E.  II.  Reed,  Taunton. 


308      BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

Court  House,  South  Carolina.  While  there,  he  became  con 
verted,  and  returned  and  commenced  the  study  of  theology, 
with  Rev.  A.  Cobb,  of  West  Taunton. 

He  was  ordained,  29  Sept.,  1830,  over  the  churches  in 
Guildhall  and  Granby,  Vt.  He  was  dismissed,  4  May,  1836, 
and  next  supplied  the  pulpit,  four  years,  at  Dublin,'  and 
seven  years  at  Gilsum,  N.  H.  He  now  officiates  at  Shutes- 
bury,  where  he  has  acted  as  stated  supply  since  Oct.,  1851. 

Mr.  Tisdale  married,  5  Oct.,  1831,  Miss  Margaretta  Caro 
line  Tubbs,  of  West  Taunton,  and  has  three  children. 

He  has,  for  years,  declined  a  resettlement  in  the  pastoral 
office,  on  account  of  the  precarious  state  of  his  health. 

83.   REV.    LUCIUS    WATSON    CLARKE 

Was  born  in  Mansfield,  now  Chaplin,  Ct.,  and  is  the  son 
of  Mr.  James  and  Jerusha  Clarke,  and  the  youngest  of  eleven 
children.  His  parents  were  both  hopefully  pious,  and  trained 
their  household  in  the  ways  of  wisdom. 

He  graduated  at  Brown  Univ.,  1825,  and  studied  theology 
with  Rev.  Dr.  Ide,  of  Medway.  He  was  ordained  over  the 
church  in  South  Wilbraham,  9  Dec.,  1829,  and  dismissed,  18 
Sept.,  1832.  Afterwards  he  engaged,  as  stated  supply^  to  the 
Fifth  church  in  Plymouth,  where  he  labored  four  or  five  years. 
He  was  next  installed  pastor  of  the  church  in  West  Ames- 
bury,  Oct.,  1838,  and  continued  there  over  five  years. 

He  now  resides  at  Middlebury,  Vt.,  and  preaches,  occa 
sionally,  in  the  vicinity. 

Mr.  Clarke  married  Miss  Lucy  Beard,  daughter  of  Rev. 
Daniel  and  Lucy  Tomlinson,  of  Oakham,  and  has  two  chil 
dren,  Lucy  Maria  and  Lucius  Watson.  Both  children  are 
hopefully  pious,  and  the  son  is  in  Middlebury  College,  pre 
paring  for  the  Ministry.* 

*  Letter  of  Rev.  L.  W.  Clarke. 


REV.     CYRUS    WHITMAN     CONANT.        809 
84.  MR.    SYLVESTER    GRAHAM 

Was  the  son  of  Rev.  John  Graham,  of  West  Suffield,  Ct., 
where  he  was  born.  He  prepared  for  college -at  Araherst 
Academy,  but  did  not  enter  any  institution  ;  studied  theology 
under  the  general  direction  of  Rev.  Emerson  Paine,  then  of 
Little  Compton.  He  requested  ordination  as  Evangelist,  by 
Mendon  Association,  28  Oct.,  1828  ;  and,  after  considerable 
delay  and  examination,  was  ordained  at  Rehoboth,  18  Nov., 
1828.  He  afterwards  preached  a  short  time  in  New  Jersey, 
to  a  Presbyterian  church  ;  but  soon  after  resigned  the  duties 
and  titles  of  the  ministry,  and  became  known  simply  as  a 
Lecturer  upon  Diet  and  Regimen.  The  subsequent  part  of 
his  life  was  spent  at  Northampton,  when  not  lecturing  abroad. 
As  a  writer  upon  Dietetics,  he  became  extensively  known.  He 
died  at  Northampton,  17  Sept.,  1851,  at  the  age  of  50,  leaving 
a  widow  and  two  children :  a  daughter,  the  wife  of  Mr.  John 
Musgrave,  of  Leedsville,  Northampton ;  and  a  son,  now  resi 
dent  of  Boston. 

85.  REV.    CHARLES    JARVIS    WARREN. 

[See  Sketches  of  Members,  No.  47.] 

86.  REV.    CYRUS    WHITMAN    CONANT, 

The  son  of  Rev.  Gaius  Conant,  was  born  in  Bridgewater, 
where  his  father  was  then  settled,  27  Nov.,  1803.* 

He  graduated  at  Union  College,  Schenectady,  1824  ; 
studied  theology  with  Rev.  Dr.  Ide  ;  and,  after  approbation, 
preached  in  several  places  in  Worcester  county. 

On  account  of  ill  health,  he  went  to  the  Southern  States, 
in  the  autumn  of  1829,  and  there  preached  to  a  society  of 


See  his  ancestry,  under  Rev.  G.  Conant,  Licentiates,  No.  46. 


310  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

colored  people,  in  Savannah,  Georgia.  Soon  after  his  return, 
he  entered  on  a  Tract  Agency,  in  the  State  of  Indiana.  He 
spent  a  year  in  this  mission  ;  and  then  applied  to  the  Pres 
bytery  for  a  renewed  license  to  preach  the  Gospel.  But  he 
was  refused,  on  account  of  his  religious  sentiments.  He  was 
a  thorough  and  consistent  advocate  of  Dr.  Emmons's  views 
in  theology ! 

He  next  engaged  as  a  school  teacher,  and  finally  settled 
down  as  a  farmer,  in  Greene  county,  Indiana.  Here  he  has 
established  a  Sabbath  school,  where  they  were  destitute  of 
regular  preaching  ;  and  here  he  still  resides,  planting  and 
watching  over  the  seeds  of  future  Gospel  institutions. 

87.    REV.   WILLIAM    HARLOW 

Is  the  son  of  Dea.  John  and  Betsey  (Torrey)  Harlow, 
and  was  born  in  Plymouth,  27  Oct.,  1805.* 

He  graduated  at  Yale  College,  1826,  and  studied  theology 
with  Rev.  Dr.  Ide.  He  was  ordained  as  Evangelist,  by  the 
Mendon  Association,  at  Wrentham,  28  Oct.,  1828,  and 
preached,  as  stated  supply,  in  Canton,  during  the  years  1829 
and  '30.  He  next  supplied  at  Waterford,  until  1832.  He 
afterwards  preached,  for  different  periods,  in  vacant  pulpits, 
in  the  vicinity  of  Wrentham,  in  which  town  he  has  resided 
since  1830. 

Mr.  Harlow  married,  19  March,  1829,  Miss  Caroline  Por 
ter,  daughter  of  Lebbeus  and  Mary  (Brastow)  Porter,  of 
Wrentham,  and  has  had  two  children,  daughters ;  the  young 
est,  Caroline  F.,  is  living. 

*  Mr.  Harlow  descended  from  William  Harlow,  who  came  in  the 
second  ship  to  Plymouth.  His  line,  as  far  as  furnished,  begins  with 
Jonathan  Harlow,  b.  in  Plymouth,  1712.  His  son,  Jonathan,  Jr.,  b.  in 
Plymouth,  1742,  m.  Betsey  Blackmcr,  of  Plymouth,  and  removed  to 
Middleboro'.  His  son  John,  b.  in  Plymouth,  1779,  m.  Betsey  Torrey, 
of  Plymouth,  and  still  lives  in  Plymouth.  He  is  the  father  of  Rev, 
William,  above. 


REV.    GILBERT   FAY.  311 

Mr.  Harlow  published  a  tract  on  the  Divinity  of  Christ, 
1828 ;  and  a  sermon  on  "  False  Standards  in  Religion," 
1828. 

88.  KEY.    ELAM   SMALLEY,   D.   D. 

[See  Sketches  of  Members,  No.  49.] 

89.    KEY.    GILBERT   FAT 

Was  the  son  of  Otis  and  Mary  (Morse)  Fay,  and  was  born 
in  Westboro',  May,  1803. 

He  graduated  at  Brown  University,  1826,  and  studied 
theology  with  Rev.  Dr.  Ide.  After  two  years  labor  in  vari 
ous  places,  he  was  ordained  as  Evangelist,  at  Westboro',  6 
Oct.,  1830,  and  went  under  a  commission  of  the  A.  H.  M.  S., 
into  the  Western  Reserve,  and  engaged  in  missionary  labors 
in  that  important,  but  then  destitute  region. 

He  labored  as  stated  supply  at  Wardsworth,  Medina  Co., 
O.,  until  his  death,  27  Oct.,  1835,  at  the  early  age  of  32. 
He  was  not  unable  to  preach  a  single  sabbath,  until  his  final 
sickness. 

"  He  was  much  loved  and  lamented  by  his  church  and  his 
brethren  in  the  ministry." 

Mr.  Fay  married  11  Sept.,  1831,  Miss  Clarissa  Walker, 
daughter  of  Comfort  and  Tamar  Walker,  of  Medway.  They 
had  two  children :  one  of  whom,  a  daughter,  died  before 
him.  The  other  child,  Gilbert  Otis  Fay,  lives  with  his  mother, 
who  has  returned  to  Medway. 

Mr.  Fay's  labors  were  too  brief  to  develop  his  full  abili 
ties.  They  were,  however,  signally  blessed.  The  little 
church  of  eleven  members  at  the  commencement,  numbered 
seventy  at  his  death. 


812  BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES. 


90.   REV.   JOHN   FORBUSH 

Is  the  son  of  Dea.  Samuel  Forbush,  of  Upton,  and  was 
born  in  that  town,  4  Sept.,  1800.  His  mother's  maiden  name 
was  Lydia  Gibson,  of  Hopkinton.  Both  parents  are  living 
in  Upton. 

He  made  public  profession  of  religion,  in  Sept.,  1815,  and 
in  1823,  began  his  literary  studies  with  Rev.  Samuel  Wood, 
D.  D.,  of  Boscawen,  N.  H.  He  graduated  at  Amherst  Col 
lege,  1828,  and  studied  theology  with  Rev.  Dr.  Ide.  He 
preached  his  first  sermon  at  Milford,  Jan'y,  1830.  Then 
supplied  Dr.  Ide's  pulpit,  during  his  illness,  until  May,  when 
he  went  to  Mendon,  where  he  preached  three  months.  He 
was  ordained  6  Oct.,  1830,  as  an  Evangelist,  at  Westboro',  by 
the  Harmony  Association,  and  went  to  the  West,  under  a 
commission  from  the  Am.  Home  Miss.  Society. 

In  this  great  "  place,"  he  labored  for  many  years,  amongst 
the  feeble  churches  and  new  communities,  with  encouraging 
success.  He  was  one  year  at  Burlington,  Lawrence  Co.,  O. 
A  new  meeting-house  was  built,  and  several  additions  to  the 
church.  Two  and  a  half  years,  he  officiated  as  pastor  of  the 
Mt.  Leigh  church,  Adams  Co.  There  were  over  sixty  addi 
tions.  From  Dec.,  1834,  he  labored  six  years  at  Brush 
Creek,  —  in  a  moral  waste,  — the  first  year  without  a  church 
and  sanctuary.  He  left  a  church  of  fifty  members,  and  two 
meeting-houses,  seven  miles  apart.  One  year  at  Homer, 
Licking  Co.  A  year  and  a  half  at  Bremen,  Fairfield  Co. 
Two  years  pastor  at  Lexington,  Perry  Co.  Forty  were 
added  and  a  new  church  of  thirty  members  was  formed  in 
the  field,  —  Unity  Church,  —  with  a  new  meeting-house. 
Over  four  years  at  New  Plymouth,  now  Vinton  Co. 

Besides  these  multiplied  missionary  and  pastoral  labors, 
Mr.  Forbush  spent  much  time  as  agent  of  the  Am.  Sunday 


REV.    VARKUM NOYES.  813 

School  Union.  Nearly  fifty  Sabbath  Schools  were  organized 
by  him,  many  of  which  are  still  in  successful  operation. 

In  May,  1850,  he  returned  with  impaired  health,  to  the 
place  of  his  nativity,  —  where  he  now  resides,  —  preaching 
recently  to  a  small  congregation  in  the  South  West  corner 
of  Hopkinton. 

On  the  evening  of  his  ordination,  Mr.  Forbush  married 
Miss  Sarah  Lesure,  of  Upton.  He  has  two  children,  both 
of  whom  are  alive  to  bless  his  household.* 

91.    REV.   VARNUM  NOTES, 

The  son  of  Josiah  and  Mehitable  (White)  Noyes,f  was 
born  in  Acton,  but,  at  four  years  of  age,  removed  with  his 
parents  to  Westmoreland,  N.  H. 

He  made  profession  of  religion,  in  Nov.,  1821,  and  com 
menced  fitting  for  the  ministry,  at  the  academies  of  Chester 
field,  N.  H.,  and  of  Amherst,  Ms.,  and  entered  Dartmouth 
College,  1824.  In  his  second  year,  his  course  was  arrested 
by  a  severe  and  protracted  disease.  On  his  recovery,  he 
taught  school  for  a  while,  and  then  studied  theology  with 
Rev.  Dr.  Ide. 

He  was  ordained  as  Evangelist  for  the  West,  by  Mendon 
Association,  at  Medway,  25  Aug.,  1831,  and  commenced 
preaching  in  -Guilford,  O.,  2  Oct.,  1831.  Half  of  the  time, 
for  a  few  years,  was  spent  in  other  neighboring  places.  In 
1836,  Sept.  21,  he  was  regularly  installed  as  pastor,  in  which 
relation  he  continued  until  8  May,  1849,  when  it  was  dissolved 
at  his  own  request. 

The  reason  of  the  step  was  found  in  the  prevalent  impres 
sion,  among  a  portion  of  the  people,  that,  as  he  had  been  with 

*  Letter  of  Rev.  J.  Forbush,  Upton. 

t  Son  of  Thomas  Noyes,  of  Acton,  and  brother  of  the  late  Rev. 
Thomas  Noyes,  of  Needham. 

27 


314  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

them  a  long  time,  a  change  of  labors  might  be  beneficial. 
The  pastor  was  willing  the  experiment  should  be  tried.  But 
after  a  trial  of  about  three  years,  he  was  invited  to  return, 
which  he  did,  March,  1852.  In  the  interval,  he  was  the  sta 
ted  supply  of  the  church  in  Wayne.  His  ministerial  connec 
tion  is  with  the  Wooster  (O.  S.)  Presbytery. 

Mr.  Noyes  married,  17  June,  1833,  Miss  Lois  Walker, 
daughter  of  the  late  Comfort  Walker,  of  Medway,  and  sister 
of  Mrs.  Gilbert  Fay.  They  have  eight  children,  and  one 
has  fallen  asleep. 

92.   KEY.    ISAAC   ERWIX   HEATON 

Is  a  native  of  Franklin,  and  the  oldest  son  of  Mr.  Nathan 
Heaton.  His  mother  was  Sarah  Boon,  of  Upton.* 

At  twenty  years  of  age,  he  experienced  the  power  of  the 
Gospel,  and  joined  the  church,  under  the  care  of  Rev.  Dr. 
Emmons.  He  entered  Brown  University,  two  years  in  ad 
vance,  and  grad.  in  1832.  Studied  theology  with  Rev.  Dr. 
Ide,  and  was  ordained  as  an  Evangelist,  by  Mendon  Associ 
ation,  at  North  Wrentham,  25  April,  1837.  He  then  en 
gaged  in  the  service  of  the  Home  Missionary  Society,  and 
in  May,  removed  to  Wisconsin. 

In  this  State  he  was,  with  the  exception  of  Rev.  C.  Marsh, 
foreign  missionary  to  the  Indians,  the  pioneer  herald  of  the 
cross.  For  more  than  a  year  he  was  the  only  *  congregation 
al  minister  in  Wisconsin.  Rev.  C.  Caldwell,  the  second  min 
ister,  resided  more  than  a  hundred  miles  from  him ;  and  they 
were  strangers  for  two  years. 

Mr.  Heaton  spent  the  first  six  months  in  Elk  Grove,  where 
is  now  a  flourishing  church,  and  meeting-house.  The  pres 
ent  active  and  useful  deacon,  was  then  an  avowed  atheist, 
and  seen  at  meeting  but  once  during  Mr.  IPs  abode  there. 


*  His  father  and  grandfather  were  Isaac,  and  were  descended  from 
the  original  settlers  in  Wrentham,  Nathaniel  and  Mary  Heaton. 


REV.     THOMAS    EDWARDS.  315 

He  next  spent  three  years  at  Belmont,  where  the  legislature 
first  met,  before  the  capital  was  located  at  Madison.  The 
place  declined  as  a  settlement,  and  he  removed  to  Mt.  Zion, 
in  Rock  Co.,  —  a  pleasant  eminence,  so  named  in  sport,  by 
an  irreligious  settler.  His  present  place  of  labor  is  at  Wa 
terloo,  where  he  has  been  for  six  years.  It  was  swayed 
by  a  strong  Universalist  influence,  now  on  the  wane. 

The  church  at  first  consisted  of  five  members,  all,  except 
ing  one  female,  unmarried.  It  now  numbers  24.  The  place 
has  grown  rapidly  since  the  Gospel  was  established  there. 
Ten  years  ago,  only  one  or  two  white  persons  could  be  found 
within  a  radius  of  ten  miles,  where  now  a  funeral  procession 
has  been  seen  one  hundred  and  twenty  rods  in  length.* 

Mr.  Heaton  married  Miss  Miranda  N.  Metcalf,  daughter 
of  Samuel  and  Mary  Metcalf,  of  Franklin.  They  have  had 
three  children,  daughters.  The  eldest  died  in  infancy. 

93.   REV.  THOMAS    EDWARDS 

Is  a  native  of  London,  England,  and  the  son  of  Miles  and 
Ann  (Debenham)  Edwards. 

He  became  interested  in  the  Gospel  of  Christ,  under  the 
ministry  of  Rev.  John  Clayton,  Sen.,  of  London,  and  pursued 
classical  studies  under  a  private  tutor. 

After  arriving  in  this  country,  he  reviewed  the  usual 
course  of  theology  with  Rev.  Dr.  Ide,  and  was  ordained 
and  settled  over  the  Evangelical  church,  Mendon,  28  Dec., 
1836,  and  dismissed  4  Feb.,  1840. 

He  next  preached  in  Ackworth,  N.  H.,  and  after  several 
months'  delay  on  account  of  health,  was  installed,  19  Aug., 
1841.  Dismissed,  13  Feb.,  1843.  He  has  since  preached  in 
Salem  and  various  other  places.  His  present  residence  is 
Charlestown. 

Mr.  Edwards  married  Miss  Amelia  Spear,  daughter  of 
Gershom  and  Elizabeth  Spear,  of  Boston.  She  died  in  1851, 

*  Letter  of  Rev.  I.  E.  Heaton,  Waterloo,  Wisconsin. 


316  BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES. 

leaving  two  children  to  survive  her.     His  second  wife  was 
Miss  Caroline ,  of  Charlestown. 

94.   REV.  ELI    THURSTON 

Was  born  in  Brighton  ;  removed  thence,  at  an  early  age, 
to  Jamaica  Plains,  and  to  Westboro' ;  and  was  converted  to 
God  while  learning  the  trade  of  gunsmith  in  Millbury.  He 
immediately  turned  his  thoughts  to  an  education  for  the  Gos 
pel  ministry. 

He  pursued  his  preparatory  studies  at  Day's  Academy, 
Wrentham  ;  graduated  at  Amherst  College,  1834,  and  studied 
theology  at  Andover,  and  with  Dr.  Ide,  of  Medway. 

He  was  ordained  over  the  Congregational  church  in  Hal- 
lowell,  Me.,  3  Jan.,  1838,  and  dismissed  July,  1848. 

On  the  21  of  March.  1849,  he  was  installed  over  the  Cen 
tral  Cong,  church  in  Fall  River,  where  he  still  continues. 

Mr.  Thurston  married  M.  Caroline,  daughter  of  Mr. 
Philo  Sanford,  of  Wrentham,  now  of  Boston  ;  who  is  a 
brother  of  Rev.  David  Sanford  of  Medway  Village,  and 
grandson  of  Rev.  David  Sanford  of  West  Medway. 

95.  REV.  CHARLES  TURNER  TORREY 

Was  born  in  Scituate,  21  Nov.,  1813.  He  was  the  son  of 
Charles  and  Hannah  Tolman  Torrey. 

His  father  died  in  1815,  and  his  mother  in  1817  ;  and  he 
was  left,  at  little  over  three  years  of  age,  to  the  care  of  his 
grandparents,  who,  as  often  happens,  did  not  guide  and  re 
strain  their  young  and  impulsive  charge  with  a  parent's 
anxious  care  and  fidelity.  When  but  five  or  six  years  old, 
he  attended  the  town-meetings,  sat  with  his  grandfather, 
Hon.  Charles  Turner,  who  was  generally  moderator,  watched 
every  movement  and  counted  every  vote.  Thus  he  acquired, 
perhaps,  his  strong  penchant  for  political  affairs,  so  fully  de 
veloped  in  his  subsequent  life. 


REV.  CHARLES  TURNER  TORREY.    317 

In  1828  lie  entered  Phillips  Academy,  at  Exeter,  N.  H., 
where  he  prepared  for  college.  He  entered  Yale,  as  Sopho 
more,  at  17,  and  graduated,  1833.  It  was  during  his  first 
year  that  he  became  a  subject  of  Divine  grace. 

After  graduation,  he  took  charge  of  the  Female  Seminary, 
West  Brookfield ;  but  the  school-room  was  not  his  field  of 
action,  and  he  resigned,  after  keeping  about  four  months. 
He  next  spent  the  academic  year  1835-6  at  Andover  Theol. 
Seminary.  On  account  of  his  health  and  pecuniary  circum 
stances,  he  left,  tried  a  pedestrian  journey,  for  the  former, 
with  success,  and  resumed  his  studies,  with  Rev.  L.  A.  Spof- 
ford,  then  of  Scituate.  In  the  summer  following,  June,  1836, 
he  repaired  to  Rev.  Dr.  Ide,  and  completed  his  preparation 
for  the  ministry.  In  March,  1837,  he  was  ordained  over  the 
Richmond  St.  Cong,  church,  Providence,  R.  I. ;  and  was  dis 
missed,  at  his  own  request,  in  October.  Soon  after,  he 
simultaneously  received  calls  to  resettle,  one  from  Randolph, 
the  other  from  the  Howard  St.  church,  Salem,  over  which  Rev. 
Dr.  Cheever,  now  of  New  York  city,  had  been  settled.  This 
latter  call  he  accepted,  and  was  installed,  Jan.,  1838.  Here 
his  earnest  entering  into  the  Anti-Slavery  cause,  and  his  calls 
abroad  to  labor  for  its  advancement,  rendered  necessary  a 
yielding  either  of  his  pastoral  connection,  or  of  his  services 
in  the  Abolition  field.  He  considered  the  latter  more  impor 
tant,  and  accordingly  was  dismissed  from  his  charge  at  Salem, 
and  engaged  as  a  public  lecturer  by  the  Mass.  Abolition  So 
ciety. 

The  exciting  theme  of  American  Slavery  furnished  ample 
material  to  inflame  his  zeal  and  employ  his  energies  and 
time.  His  labors  in  this  field  are  detailed  in  his  published 
Memoir.  He  travelled,  lectured,  wrote,  and  published,  in 
furtherance  of  the  cause  of  Emancipation. 

While  he  was  at  Washington,  as  a  correspondent  for  seve 
ral  newspapers,  a  slaveholders'  convention  was  holden,  12 
Jan.,  1842,  at  Annapolis,  Maryland,  to  further  the  interests 

27* 


318      BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

of  the  '  peculiar  institution.'  Mr.  Torrey  determined  to  at 
tend  and  gather  up  the  developments,  and  report  for  the  press. 
He  took  his  seat  with  other  reporters  ;  but,  by  a  series  of 
manoeuvres,  he  was  ejected,  from  the  floor  into  the  lobby, 
and  thence  into  jail ;  on  what  definite  charge,  even  his  accus 
ers  could  not  find  to  say.  After  vexatious  legal  quibbles, 
he  was  released  and  bound  over  to  t  keep  the  peace,'  until 
April.  Thus  began  his  practical  acquaintance  of  slavery 
and  slave-prisons,  —  an  acquaintance  to  end,  not  yet. 

In  1842,  he  went  to  Albany  and  edited  and  finally  published 
the  "  Tocsin  of  Liberty,"  afterwards  u  Albany  Patriot."  But 
his  warm  and  readily-awakened  sympathy  for  them  in  bonds, 
would  not  suffer  him  to  operate  in  their  behalf  at  this  dis 
tance.  He  repaired  to  Delaware,  and  became,  as  was  sus 
pected,  the  active  coadjutor  of  slaves  escaping  from  servitude. 

He  was  arrested,  24  June,  1844,  at  Baltimore,  on  com 
plaint  of  Bushrod  Taylor,  of  Winchester,  Va.,  for  aiding,  as 
affirmed,  certain  slaves  of  his  to  escape  from  Virginia.  Im 
mediately  upon  this,  William  Heckroth  brought  a  similar 
suit  for  aiding  the  escape  of  slaves  from  Maryland.  This  lat 
ter  case  took  precedence,  and  he  was  committed  to  jail  for  trial. 
That  event  at  length  took  place,  29  Nov.,  1844  ;  and,  on  the 
3d  of  December,  terminated  in  a  verdict  of  guilty,  upon  every 
indictment  ;  and  he  was  condemned  to  six  years'  hard  labor, 
in  the  State  Penitentiary.  Sentence  was  suspended  nearly 
a  month. 

During  part  of  this  time,  Mr.  Torrey  wrote  his  little  vol 
ume,  "  Home,  or  the  Pilgrims'  Faith  revived." 

On  the  30th  day  of  December,  1844,  he  was  removed  to 
prison.  His  treatment  was  as  humane  as  the  rules  would 
allow ;  but  the  seeds  of  disease,  sown  in  previous  labors,  ger 
minated  in  the  solitudes  and  silence  of  the  cell,  and  speedily 
ripened  for  the  reaper,  Death.  Every  rational  effort  for  his 
deliverance  was  made  by  his  friends,  but  without  avail.  But 
a  deliverer  was  coming  whom  no  prison  walls  could  exclude  ? 


REV.  CHARLES  TURNER  TORRE  Y.    819 

and  no  Executive  could  prevent  accomplishing  his  work. 
Consumption  opened  his  way  beyond  the  reach  of  man. 

Mr.  Torrey  died  9  May,  1846,  aged  33  years.  Three  days 
before  his  death,  the  sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper  was  ad 
ministered  to  him  by  Rev.  Dr.  Smalley,  of  Worcester.  The 
occasion  was  solemn  ;  and,  to  him,  seemed  a  foretaste  of  that 
communion  above,  which  he  was  speedily  to  enter.  His  re 
mains  rest  in  Mt.  Auburn  Cemetery,  marked  by  a  monument, 
raised  by  his  friends,  to  his  memory. 

Mr.  Torrey  married  Mary,  the  second  daughter  of  Rev. 
Dr.  Ide,  of  Medway.  He  left  two  children,  still  living. 

Mr.  Torrey  was  of  pale  visage,  slender  form,  and  nervous 
temperament.  As  a  scholar,  he  was  marked  by  a  ready  intui 
tion  and  grasp  of  subjects,  and  by  versatile  talents  ;  but  he 
lacked  concentrativeness  and  perseverance.  It  is  no  common 
man  that  could  write,  in  the  circumstances  and  the  manner 
he  did,  such  a  book  as  "  Home,"  of  255  pages,  in  twelve 
days,  on  the  eve  of  an  incarceration  of  six  long  years  ! 
As  a  preacher,  his  marked  characteristics  were  obviously 
impressed  upon  his  every  performance.  His  pastoral  labors 
were  too  brief  to  leave  any  very  permanent  impressions. 

It  is  as  an  earnest  laborer  in  the  cause  of  Abolition,  that 
he  will  be  known  hereafter.  The  part  he  acted,  has  been 
the  subject  of  general  speculation.  It  will  come  up  again, 
in  future  review,  and  with  truer  conclusions,  when  the  dark 
system  of  oppression  which  c  ut  short  his  days,  with  all  its 
perverting  influences,  will  have  passed  away. 

As  to  his  legal  guiltiness,  on  the  specific  charges  made 
against  him,  we  have  nothing  to  say.  But  assuming  the  fact 
of  his  actual  agency  in  aiding  fugitives  escaping  from  slavery, 
as  to  his  moral  guilt,  we  may  use  his  own  language  to  a  friend, 
while  in  prison  :  "  If  I  am  a  guilty  man,  I  am  a  very  guilty 
one  ;  for  I  have  aided  nearly  four  hundred  slaves  to  escape 
to  freedom  ;  the  greater  part  of  whom  would  probably,  but 
for  my  exertions,  have  died  in  slavery." 


o20  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


96.    REV.   ELNATHAN    DAVIS 

Is  the  3d  son  of  Ethan  and  Sarah  Davis,  late  of  Ilolden. 

He  graduated  at  Williams  College,  1834,  and  at  East 
Windsor,  Ct.,  1836;  ordained  as  Evangelist,  at  Holden,  9 
Nov.,  1836.  An  engagement  with  the  A.  B.  C.  F.  M.,  was 
resigned  on  account  of  opinions  upon  Infant  Baptism.  A 
Chaplaincy  from  the  Am.  Seamen's  Friends'  Society,  was 
arrested  by  the  commercial  pressure  of  1837. 

He  supplied  vacant  pulpits :  among  them,  that  of  the  Lu 
natic  Asylum,  Worcester.  In  1839,  went  to  Indiana,  and 
returned  in  1845,  on  account  of  his  wife's  health.  He  was 
also  engaged  in  the  cause  of  peace,  as  delegate  of  which,  he 
attended  the  Peace  Congress  of  1839,  at  Paris. 

He  was  installed  in  Ashburnham,  16  Sept.,  1846  ;  and  dis 
missed,  May,  1851,  to  take  charge  of  the  Trinitarian  Cong. 
Church,  Fitchburg ;  where  he  was  installed,  23  June,  1851. 

Mr.  Davis  married  Mary  Avery,  daughter  of  Mr.  Aaron 
White,  of  Boylston,  and  granddaughter  of  Rev.  Joseph 
Avery,  former  pastor  of  the  church  in  Holden. 

97.    REV.   JOHN   DWIGHT 

Was  born  in  Shirley,  and  is  the  son  of  Mr.  Francis  and 
Maria  Dwight. 

He  prepared  for  college  at  Woburn  Academy,  graduated 
at  Amherst,  1835,  and  studied  theology  with  Rev.  Dr.  Ide. 

He  was  ordained  over  the  South  Church  in  North  Bridge- 
water,  12  April,  1837,  and  dismissed  in  feeble  health,  March, 
1839.  He  was  installed  over  the  Manomet  Church,  Ply 
mouth,  28  July,  1841,  and  dismissed  at  his  request,  March, 
1846.  He  is  at  present  employed  as  stated  supply,  at  North 
Wrentham. 

Mr.  - Dwight  married  Miss  Sally  Hasting?,  daughter  of  Mr. 
Benjamin  Hastings,  late  of  Boston,  and  has  six  children. 


REV.     WILLIAM   PHIPPS,  JR.  321 

Mr.  Dwigbt  has  published  two  Farewell  Sermons,  deliv 
ered  to  his  people,  at  Plymouth. 

98.    REV.    MORTIMER    BLAKE, 

[See  Sketches  of  Members,  No.  56.] 

99.    REV.    EDMUND    DOWSE 

Is  the  son  of  Benjamin  and  Thankful  (Chamberlain) 
Dowse,  of  Sherborn. 

He  fitted  for  college  at  Day's  Academy,  Wrentham,  and 
graduated  at  Amherst  College,  1836,  and  studied  theology 
with  Rev.  Dr.  Ide. 

He  was  ordained,  10  Oct.,  1838,  over  the  church  in  his 
native  town,  where  he  still  remains. 

Mr.  Dowse  married  Elizabeth  R.,  daughter  of  Dea.  Daniel 
Leland,  of  Sherborn.  She  died  16  June,  1842,  leaving  a 
daughter.  His  present  wife  was  Elizabeth  Bowditch,  daugh 
ter  of  Galen  and  Sally  (Davenport)  Bowditch,  of  Sherborn. 

100.   REV.  CHARLES    CHAMBERLAIN. 

[See  Sketches  of  Members,  No.  74.] 

101.    REV.    SAMUEL    HUNT. 

[See  Sketches  of  Members,  No.  75.] 

102.    REV.    DANIEL    J.    POOR. 

[See  Sketches  of  Members,  No.  55.] 

103.    REV.    WILLIAM    PHIPPS,  JR. 

Is    a  native  of  Franklin,  and    the  son  of  William    and 
Fanny  (Morton)  Phipps. 
He  graduated  at  Amherst  College,  1837,  and  A.  M. ;  studied 


322       BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

theology  with  Rev.  Dr.  Ide,  and  was  ordained  at  Paxton,  1 1 
Nov.,  1840. 

Mr.  Phipps  married  Miss  Mary  Partridge,  daughter  of 
Mr.  Eleazer  Partridge,  of  Franklin,  and  has  several  children. 

Mr.  Phipps  has  published  a  Funeral  Sermon  of  Mrs.  E. 
T.  Smith,  wife  of  Rev.  John  C.  Smith,  missionary  to  Ceylon, 
1842. 

104.  REV.  JONATHAN  GROUT 

Was  born  in  Westboro',  in  1811. 

He  studied  at  Amherst  Academy,  and  graduated  at  Yale 
College,  1836.  He  followed  teaching  about  two  years,  in 
North  Carolina,  and  then  returned,  and  studied  theology 
with  Rev.  Dr.  Ide.  He  preached  a  few  months  in  Millville, 
South  Mendon,  when  he  withdrew  from  the  ministry,  and 
settled  upon  the  paternal  farm. 

Upon  the  death  of  his  wife,  —  Mrs.  Florella  Mills  Grout, 
daughter  of  Rev.  David  Holman,  of  Douglas,  —  he  resolved 
to  preach  again. 

He  was  ordained  as  an  Evangelist,  at  Westboro',  Oct.,  1845, 
and  went  to  Southeastern  Ohio,  in  Meigs  and  Athens  Cos. 
His  health  began  to  be  impaired,  and  he  left  the  pulpit  for 
the  school  room.  He  taught  school  for  three  years  in 
Coolville,  Athens  Co.,  Ohio. 

In  this  latter  place,  he  now  resides,  engaged  in  business, 
as  partner  in  a  mercantile  firm,  and  occasionally  preaching 
in  destitute  places.  He  is  ministerially  connected  with  the 
Marietta  Consociation. 

105.    REV.  JOSEPH    HOLMES   BAILEY 

Was  born  in  West  Newbury,  15  Sept.,  1808. 

He  indulged  hope  at  the  age  of  21,  and,  though  feeble  in 
body,  bent  his  steps  towards  the  ministry.  After  many 
struggles,  he  graduated  at  Amherst  Coll.,  1838.  He  then 


MR.    RICHARD    CECIL    SPOFFORD.       823 

taught  school  some  two  years,  at  Edgartown,  M.  V.,  studied 
theology  with  Rev.  Dr.  Ide,  and  also  attended  lectures  at 
Andover. 

He  commenced  preaching  in  1843,  at  Dighton,  where  he 
was  ordained,  31  Jan'y,  1844.  Rev.  Dr.  Ide  preached  the 
Sermon.  In  the  Autumn  of  the  same  year,  he  was  seized 
with  the  prevailing  typhoid  fever  ;  recovered  partially,  and 
went  prematurely,  to  his  parents,  in  West  Newbury,  where 
he  relapsed  and  died  in  a  few  days,  at  the  age  of  36.* 

Mr.  Bailey  secured  a  strong  hold  upon  the  affections  of 
his  people  in  his  brief  ministry,  and  awakened  promising 
hopes  of  usefulness  to  the  church  and  the  world.  But  his 
sudden  end  destroyed  their  fruition,  and  left  his  page  a 
blank. 

106.  REV.    PRESTON    POND,  JR. 

[See  Members,  No.  72.] 

107.    MR.   RICHARD    CECIL    SPOFFORD 

Was  born  at  East  Bradford,  now  Groveland,  22  Dec., 
1817.  He  was  the  son  of  Rev.  Luke  A.  Spofford  and  his 
wife  Grata  (Rand)  Spofford,  the  daughter  of  Col.  Daniel 
and  Susan  Rand,  of  Rindge,  N.  H.,  and  was  grandson  of 
Dea.  Eleazer  and  Mary  (Flint)  Spofford,  of  Jaffrey,  N.  H. 

He  fitted  for  college  at  Groveland  Academy,  where  he 
was  converted,  1831,  and  graduated  at  Amherst  Coll.,  1839 
He  then  engaged  a  year,  or  more,  in  teaching,  in  which  occu 
pation  he  was  highly  efficient.  He  studied  theology  with 
Rev.  J.  Ide,  D.  D.  From  November  to  March,  after  his  ap 
probation,  he  preached  in  Barre.  His  labors  were  too  ex 
hausting  for  an  already  diseased  frame,  and  he  retired  to  the 


Rev.  A.  Cobb.  W.  Taunton. 


32-1  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

family  of  his  father,  on  Martha's  Vineyard,  to  recruit.  But 
weeks  passed,  and  consumption  indicated  its  grasp  so  de 
cidedly  and  powerfully,  that  he  resigned  the  hopes  of  re 
covery.  He  lingered  through  the  winter,  and  died  at  Chil- 
mark,  25  May,  1843,  in  his  2Gth  year. 

In  Mr.  Spofford's  early  death,  many  high  hopes  for  this 
world  were  forever  blasted. 

In  college,  he  sustained  a  high  reputation  for  accurate 
scholarship,  and  purity  and  elegance  of  literary  taste.  His 
style  as  a  writer  was  pure  and  classical,  and  his  descriptions 
peculiarly  chaste  and  graphic. 

He  wrote  many  poetical  effusions,  evincing  an  ability, 
which,  one  who  knew  him  well  has  said,  might,  with  life  and 
favoring  circumstances,  equal  a  Thompson  or  a  Cowper. 

The  ministry  was  to  him  the  highest  and  holiest  calling  ; 
and  when  he  entered  upon  it,  it  engrossed  his  supreme  re 
gard,  and  enlisted  his  undivided  labors.  His  season  of  pre 
paration  for  the  sacred  office  was  marked  by  earnest  labors 
for  the  salvation  of  men,  and  the  fidelity  of  his  public  and 
private  exhortations  at  Medway  are  still  remembered. 

While  there  he  prepared  the  copious  Index  to  Dr.  Ein- 
mons's  works,  then  in  process  of  publication  by  his  instructor. 
Dr.  Ide. 

The  Gospel,  which  had  been  the  theme  of  his  deep  and 
prayerful  study,  was  his  sure  foundation  in  his  closing  sick 
ness  and  death. 

108.   REV.  HORACE    DEAN  WALKER 

Is  the  son  of  Mr.  Dean  and  Rebecca  (Wright)  Walker,  of 
East  Medway.* 

*  His  ancestry  first  appears  among  the  early  settlers  of  Rehoboth. 
Comfort  Walker,  son  of  Caleb,  Jr.,  removed  from  Rehoboth  to  Kil- 
lingly,  Ct.  Ills  son.  the  father  of  Dcanc  Walker,  migrated  thence*  to 
Med\vay,  where  the  latter  was  born.  Rev.  Augustus  Walker,  of  the 
Syrian  Mission,  and  approbated  by  Mendon  Association,  Jan.,  1852,  is 
brother  of  Rev.  Horace,  above. 


REV.    ABRAHAM    JENKINS,   JR.          325 

He  prepared  for  college  mostly  at  Franklin  Academy,  and 
entered  Western  Reserve  College  at  Hudson,  O.,  in  1837. 
He  then  removed  to  Yale  College,  where  he  graduated, 
1841.  He  studied  theology  with  Rev.  Dr.  Ide  one  year, 
and  completed  his  course  at  Bangor  Seminary,  in  1843.  He 
was  ordained  over  the  third  church  in  Abington,  15  Feb., 
1844,  where  he  remains. 

Mr.  "Walker  married  Mercy  A.  Mason,  daughter  of  Hora 
tio  and  Julia  (Adams)  Mason,  of  Medway.  Her  mother  was 
sister  to  Rev.  Jasper  Adams,  D.  D.,  Prest.  of  Geneva  Coll., 
N.  Y.,  of  Charleston  Coll.,  Charleston,  S.  C.,  and  Prof,  of 
Moral  Philosophy  at  West  Point  Academy. 

109.    REV.  ABRAHAM   JENKINS,    JR. 

Is  the  son  of  Abraham  Jenkins,  of  Barre. 

He  graduated  at  Amherst  College,  1838.  After  gradua 
tion,  he  assisted  Prest.  Hitchcock  in  his  chemical  lectures, 
and  in  his  geological  survey  of  the  State,  until  the  summer 
of  1839,  when  he  taught  school,  for  more  than  two  years,  at 
Troy  and  Keene,  N.  H. ;  also,  part  of  the  year  1842,  at  Ed- 
gartown,  M.  V.  He  entered  upon  the  study  of  theology  with 
Rev.  Dr.  Ide,  and  received  approbation  to  preach. 

A  bronchial  affection  soon  disenabled  him  from  occupying 
the  pulpit,  except  occasionally ;  which  he  did,  in  1843,  at 
Hardwick;  in  the  autumn  of  1844,  at  River  Head,  Long 
Island,  and  in  1845  at  Halifax,  Vt.  Here  he  declined  a  call, 
as  he  did  also  from  the  church  of  River  Head,  on  account  of 
a  fresh  attack  of  bleeding  at  the  lungs.  Subsequently,  he 
labored  a  few  months  at  South  Woodstock,  Ct.,  at  Gorham, 
Me.,  at  Winchendon  and  Royalston.  In  1847,  he  preached 
some  months  at  South  Brookfield  and  Tisbury,  M.  V. 

In  October,  he  was  invited  to  Fitzwilliam,  N.  H.,  where 
he  was  ordained  and  settled,  16  Feb.,  1848.  He  is  now 
pleasantly  situated,  and  able  to  preach  most  of  the  time  ;  al- 
28 


326      BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

though  with  anticipations  on  his  part,  that <  he  can  hardly 
hope  to  preach  much  more.' 

110.   KEY.  EDWARD    PKATT 

Is  a  native  of  Marblehead,  and  the  son  of  Jonathan  and 
Sarah  (Beckford)  Pratt,  natives  of  Salem.* 

He  commenced  studies  with  reference  to  a  collegiate  educa 
tion,  but  was  compelled,  by  his  health,  to  relinquish  them. 
After  engaging  some  ten  years  in  business,  his  returning 
health  encouraged  the  former  idea  of  entering  the  ministry. 
As  his  age  seemed  to  forbid  the  usual  complete  course  of 
study,  he  entered  Gilmanton  Theol.  Seminary,  and  gradu 
ated,  1844.  He  was  Resident  Licentiate  at  Andover,  until 
Feb.,  1845. 

In  April,  he  commenced  preaching  at  Abington,  Ct. ;  was 
ordained  Evangelist,  by  Mendon  Association  and  others,  at 
Wrentham,  13  Aug.,  1845.  He  left  Abington,  April,  1849, 
and  engaged  as  exploring  agent  of  the  Norfolk  Co.  Bible 
Society.  In  May,  1851,  he  entered  the  service  of  the  N.  Y. 
City  Tract  Society,  as  their  missionary  in  the  III.  and  V. 
Wards,  and  is  now  in  the  same  employ. 

Mr.  Pratt  married  Miss  Sarah  Blake,  daughter  of  Mr. 
Robert  Blake,  of  Wrentham,  who  wras  lost  in  the  steamer 
Lexington,  on  Long  Island  Sound. 


*  Mr.  Pratt's  paternal  grandfather,  — born  Salem,  1745,  and  died 
Orford,  N.  H.,  1831, — was  captain  of  the  famous  privateer,  "Grand 
Turk,"  during  the  revolutionary  war.  After  the  close  of  the  war,  he 
retired  to  Orford,  N.  H.,  and  became  one  of  the  parishioners  of  the  late 
Rev.  Jotham  Sewall. 

His  maternal  ancestor  was  Benjamin  Beckford,  Salem,  1640.  Ben 
jamin  Beckford,  the  patriarch  of  Congregationalism  in  Illinois,  and  who 
recently  died  at  Griggsville,  111.,  aged  87,  was  his  descendant,  and  uncle 
to  Mr.  Pratt. 

Rev.  Horace  Pratt,  lately  at  Seekonk,  is  brother  of  Rev.  Edward, 
above.— Rev.  E.  Pratt. 


REV.     MALACHI     BULLARD.  327 


111.   REV.  MALACHI    BULLARD, 

The  son  of  Malaclii  Bullard,  was  born  in  West  Medway, 
1817. 

He  pursued  his  preparatory  studies  at  Franklin  Academy, 
and  entered  Amherst  College,  1837 ;  but  left,  the  second 
year,  for  Dartmouth  College,  where  he  graduated,  1840.  He 
studied  theology  with  Dr.  Ide. 

He  was  engaged,  more  or  less  for  some  years,  in  teaching 
school.  In  1842,  he  had  the  preceptorship  of  Atkinson 
Academy,  N.  H.  He  continued  in  this  employment,  and  oc 
casionally  supplied  vacant  pulpits,  preaching  several  months 
in  Dighton,  —  among  other  places,  —  until  1846;  when  he 
was  ordained  over  the  church  in  Winchendon,  19  Nov.,  1846. 
But  his  work  on  earth  was  speedily  finished.  After  a  sick 
ness  of  several  months,  he  died,  10  May,  1849,  aged  32. 

His  wife  was  Sabrina,  the  daughter  of  Mr.  Nathan  Bul 
lard,  of  W.  Medway. 

As  a  scholar,  Mr.  Bullard  was  laborious  and  persevering. 
If  his  progress  was  slow,  it  was  sure.  He  left  no  ground 
unsurveyed,  no  student's  duty  unperformed. 

"  He  was  a  man  of  few  words,  but  those  were  spoken  with 
discretion  ;  of  few  promises,  but  they  could  be  relied  upon 
with  entire  confidence. 

He  was  a  faithful  and  useful  Minister  of  the  Gospel, 
industrious,  methodical,  kind,  prudent,  and  devoted  to  his 
duties. 

The  people  of  his  charge,  and  the  association  of  ministers 
to  which  he  belonged,  regarded  him  with  respect,  confidence, 
and  affection.  During  his  entire  sickness,  he  was  calm,  hap 
py,  and  hopeful,  and  manifested  entire  acquiescence  in  the  Di 
vine  Will."  * 

The  only  published  production  of  his  pen,  an  occasional 

*  Obituary  notice  in  Puritan  Recorder. 


328  BIOGRAPHICAL     SKETCHES. 

sermon  on  "  Sinful  Amusements,"  shows  him  to  be  a  clear 
thinker,  and  an  unshrinking  reprover  of  what  he  considered 
wrong,  even  amongst  his  own  people. 

112.   REV.   ALLEN   LINCOLN 

Is  the  son  of  Mr.  Thomas  and  Nancy  N.  (Norcross) 
Lincoln,  of  Cohasset,  where  he  was  born,  24  November, 
1813. 

He  first  learned  the  house  and  ship  joiner's  trade  in  Bos 
ton,  but  afterwards  fitted  for  college  at  Woburn  Academy, 
and  grad.  at  Dartmouth,  1839. 

He  had  charge  of  Austin  st.  Academy,  Cambridgeport, 
four  years,  and  then  studied  theology  with  Rev.  Dr.  Ide. 

He  was  ordained  at  Gray,  Cumberland  Co.,  Me.,  5  Nov., 
1845,  where  he  now  is. 

Mr.  Lincoln,  m.  Lucy  Richardson,  only  daughter  of  Dea. 
Stephen  Richardson  of  Woburn.  She  died  2o  July,  1846. 
His  present  wife  was  Julia  A.  Holmes,  d.  of  Asa  Holmes, 
Esq.,  of  North  Auburn,  Me. 

113.    REV.   WILLIAM   M.    THAYER 

Is  the  son  of  Maj.  Davis  and  Betsey  (Makepeace)  Thayer 
of  Franklin. 

He  fitted  for  college  at  Franklin  Academy,  and  grad.  at 
Brown  University,  1843.  After  graduation,  he  engaged  for 
awhile  in  teaching,  at  Attleboro',  Franklin,  and  South 
Braintree.  He  studied  theology  with  Rev.  Dr.  Ide  of  Med- 
way,  and  Rev.  M.  Blake  of  Mansfield. 

He  preached  in  Edgartown,  M.  V.,  for  a  year,  and  declin 
ed  a  call  for  settlement.  He  was  employed  for  a  season  in 
North  Chelsea,  and  in  other  places,  and  finally  was  ordained 
over  the  church  in  Ashland,  20  June,  1849,  and  there  he  con 
tinues. 


REV.    JOSIAH    LYMAN     AEMES.  329 

He  married  Miss  Rebecca  Richards,  of  Dover,  and  has 
one  child. 

Mr.  Thayer  has  published,  a  Review  of  Rev.  Mr.  Love- 
joy's  sermon  on  Prohibitory  Law,  1851.  The  Price  of  Gold, 
a  funeral  sermon  on  a  young  member  of  his  congregation 
who  died  in  California,  1852.  The  Worth  of  the  Soul,  and 
Happy  New  Year  :  a  juvenile  series,  1852. 

114.   REV.   JAMES   M.    BACON 

Is  the  son  of  Joseph  and  Beulah  (Fuller)  Bacon  of  New 
ton. 

He  fitted  for  college  at  Phillips  Academy,  Andover,  but 
did  not  graduate,  on  account  of  ill  health.  After  an  irregu 
lar  study  of  over  six  years,  he  became  the  theological  pupil 
of  Rev.  Dr.  Ide,  with  whom  he  attended  the  usual  course. 

He  was  ordained  in  Littleton,  8  Oct.,  1846,  and  dismissed, 
on  account  of  ill  health,  13  Nov.,  1849.  He  was  installed 
over  the  Union  Evangelical  church  of  Amesbury  and  Salis 
bury,  25  June,  1851,  where  he  now  is. 

Mr.  Bacon  m.  Miss  Maria  Woodward,  daughter  of  Dea. 
Elijah  F.  and  Anna  Woodward  of  Newton.* 

115.   EEV.    JOSIAH    LYMAN   AKMES 

Was  born  in  New  Salem,  but  early  became  a  resident  of 
Randolph."}" 

He  spent  some  time  in  Hamilton  Coll.,  N.  Y.,  and  entered 

*  The  Deaconship  of  the  Newton  church  seems  to  be  an  heirloom  in 
this  family.  Six  of  them,  in  direct  lineal  descent,  have  held  the  office, 
and  have  also  lived  and  died  in  the  same  house ;  which  is  now  occupied 
by  the  seventh  generation  of  their  line.  —  Rev.  J.  M.  Bacon. 

t  His  father  bore  the  same  name  as  himself.  His  mother  was  a  Trask, 
of  New  Salem.  He  is  a  descendant,  in  the  fifth  generation,  from  William 
Armes,  who  came  from  the  Island  of  Jersey,  and  settled  in  Hadley, 
about  1700. 

28* 


330     BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

Amherst  College,  1836  ;  but  was  compelled  to  leave,  as  many 
others,  for  want  of  funds.  He  engaged  in  teaching,  in  the 
Academy  at  South  Dennis,  and  the  Classical  School  in 
Belchertown.  In  1841,  he  took  charge  of  the  Mansfield  Acad 
emy,  where  he  continued  until  1845.  During  his  connection 
with  this  school,  he  prosecuted  his  theological  studies,  under 
the  direction  of  Rev.  M.  Blake,  of  Mansfield. 

He  was  ordained  pastor  of  the  Manomet  church,  Plymouth, 
25  June,  1846  ;  and  was  dismissed,  31  July,  1850.  He  was 
again  settled,  30  Oct.,  1850,  in  Mason,  N.  IL,  as  colleague 
with  Rev.  Ebenezer  Hill,  where  he  now  is. 

He  married  Marcia  K.,  daughter  of  Mr.  Arza  Keith,  of 
N.  Bridgewater,  and  has  five  children,  daughters. 

116.   REV.    EZRA   NEWTON,   JR. 

Was  born  in  Princeton,  30  Sept.,  1818. 

He  studied  at  Monson  Academy,  1838-9,  graduated  at 
Dartmouth,  1843,  and  studied  theology  with  Rev.  S.  Harding, 
then  of  East  Medway.  He  preached  in  Dighton  one  year, 
from  1  July,  1846,  where  he  declined  a  settlement.  He  was 
ordained  in  Shutesbury,  1  March,  1848  ;  and  was  dismissed, 
on  account  of  his  health,  10  Sept.,  1850.  The  following  sum 
mer,  he  acted  as  Agent  of  the  N.  Hamp.  Bible  Society,  and 
preached,  part  of  the  time,  in  Raymond,  N.  H. 

Mr.  Newton  married  Miss  Clark,  of  E.  Medway,  and  now 
resides  at  Kingston,  N.  H.  He  is  unable  to  preach. 

117.    MR.    HIRAM    C.    DANIELS 

Is  a  native  of  E.  Medway,  and  the  son  of  Amos  and  Sally 
Daniels.  His  father  died  recently,  and  his  mother  married  a 
Bullard,  and  resides  in  Sherborn. 

He  graduated  at  Dartmouth  College,  1845,  and  studied 
theology  in  private. 


REV.     FREDERIC     A.    FISK.  331 

He  has  preached  in  various  places,  supplying  the  pulpit  in 
Kennebunk,  Me.,  for  a  considerable  time  ;  but  is  now  com 
pelled,  by  a  bronchial  difficulty,  to  forego  the  labor  of  public 
speaking. 

He  is  employed  as  travelling  Agent  of  the  American  and 
Foreign  Christian  Union. 

Mr.  Daniels  married  Miss  Susan  Cressy,  of  Rowley. 

118.  REV.    JOHN   W.   HARDING 

Is  the  oldest  child  of  Rev.  Sewall  Harding  of  Boston,  and 
was  born  in  Waltham.*  He  fitted  for  college  at  Phillips 
Academy,  Andover  ;  graduated  at  Yale  College,  1845  ;  and 
at  Andover.  He  is  at  Longmeadow,  where  he  was  ordained, 
1  Jan.,  1850. 

Mr.  Harding  married,  29  Dec.,  1852,  Mehitable  P.  Lane, 
daughter  of  Jenkins  Lane,  Esq.,  of  East  Abington. 

119.  REV.    FREDERIC    A.   FISK 

Is  the  youngest  son  of  Rev.  Elisha  and  Margaret  (Shep 
herd)  Fisk,  of  Wrentham.f 

He  prepared  for  College  at  Day's  Academy,  Wrentham  ; 
and  graduated  at  Amherst  Coll.,  1836,  and  A.  M.  After  his 
graduation,  he  followed  school-teaching  for  ten  years,  both  in 
Connecticut  and  Massachusetts.  After  the  death  of  his  wife, 
he  resided  awhile  at  New  Haven,  and  prosecuted  the  study 
of  divinity  there,  in  1850. 

After  approbation,  he  supplied  the  pulpit  in  Norton  and  in 
Ashburnham,  at  which  latter  place  he  received  a  call,  and 
was  settled,  30  Dec.,  1851. 

*  See  Rev.  S.  Harding,  Members,  No.  61. 
t  See  Kcv.  E.  Fisk,  Members,  No.  29. 


o32     BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

Mr.  Fisk  married  Anne  A.  Nelson,  daughter  of  Rev.  Ste 
phen  S.  and  Emilia  (Robbing,  of  Suffield,  Ct.)  Nelson,  late 
pastor  of  the  West  church  in  Amherst.  She  died,  7  May, 
1848,  leaving  one  child  —  a  son.  Mr.  Fisk's  present  wife 
was  Rebecca  J.  Robbins,  daughter  of  Dea.  Josiah  Robbins, 
of  Plymouth. 

120.   REV.   HENRY   LOBDELL 

Was  born  in  Danbury,  Ct,,  25  Jan.,  1827,  and  is  the  son 
of  Henry  C.  and  Almina  Lobdell.  His  life,  from  ten  to  six 
teen,  was  spent  in  the  family  of  Mr.  John  Covill,  of  Reading, 
Ct.,  engaged  in  labor  upon  a  farm.  In  the  course  of  prepa 
ration  for  College,  he  taught  school,  one  year,  in  the  city  of 
New  London,  Ct. 

Previous  to  entering  college,  he  studied  medicine  three 
years  with  Dr.  Hanford  of  North  Bennet,  Bethel,  Ct.  In  18i9, 
he  was  graduated  at  Amherst  College,  and  received  the  degree 
of  M.  D.,  from  New  Haven,  March,  1850.  lie  studied 
theology,  at  New  Haven,  at  Andover,  and  while  teaching 
a  boarding  school,  in  Danbury,  Ct. 

At  the  time  of  his  approbation,  he  was  under  a  prospective 
appointment  to  the  Foreign  Mission  Field,  by  the  American 
Board,  expecting  to  occupy  the  post  in  Syria,  made  vacant 
by  the  death  of  Doct.  A.  Smith. 

He  was  ordained  as  an  Evangelist  to  Koordistan,  5  Oct., 
1851,  at  the  Broadway  Tabernacle,  New  York,  and  has  since 
sailed  to  his  destined  field  of  labor. 

121.    MR.   JOHN    EDWIN    COREY 

Is  the  connecting  link  of  the  lists  of  candidates  of  the  past 
and  present  centuries. 
He  was  born  in  Mansfield,  and  is  the  son  of  Mr.  Leonard 


MR.   JOHN   EDWIN   COREY.  333 

and  Adah  (Skinner)  Corey.  He  fitted  for  college  at  Mans 
field  Academy,  graduated  at  Ambers t,  1850,  and  studied 
theology  with  Rev.  M.  Blake,  of  Mansfield. 

He  was  immediately  employed,  as  stated  supply,  at  Edgar- 
town,  Martha's  Vineyard,  where  he  preached  until  Oct.,  1852. 
lie  is  now  supplying  at  Dighton. 

Mr.  Corey  married  Fanny  M.,  the  daughter  of  Mr.  Daniel 
and  Lavina  (Clark)  Williams,  Jr.,  of  Mansfield. 


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338  COMPARATIVE     TABLES. 


III.    AVERAGES. 

Of  the  77  Members,  35  are  dead,  42  are  living. 
Of  the  42  living,  6  have  retired  or  entered  other  employments, 
and  16  are  in  the  pastoral  office ;    of  whom,  6  continue  in  their 
first  pastorate. 

Of  the  35  deceased  members :  — 
The  average  of  their  first  pastorate  is  28  yrs.  3  m. 
"          "        ""          whole  pastoral  life,  32  yrs.  2  m. 
"          "          "  "     ministerial  life,  38  yrs.  2  m. 

"          "          "  "     natural  life,  68-j-yrs. 

Of  the  survivors :  — 
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"         "  whole  pastoral  life  of  39,  12  yrs.  8  m. 

"          "  ministerial  life  of  40,  20  yrs.  10  m. 

"         "  pastorate  of  5  still  undismissed,  18  yrs,  llm. 

Of  the  deceased  members,  Rev.  Dr.  Emmons  of  Franklin  at 
tained  to  the  greatest  age  ;  viz.  95  yrs.  4  m.  Rev.  Dr.  Hall  of 
Sutton  was  the  longest  settled  over  the  same  people  ;  viz.  59  yrs. 
6  mos. 

Rev.  O.  Thompson  of  N.  Abington,  is  the  oldest  minister  who 
has  belonged  to  the  Association  ;  being  now  in  his  7  7th  year. 

Rev.  Dr.  Ide,  of  the  living  members,  has  been  the  longest  set 
tled  in  the  same  place ;  being  now  in  the  39th  y.  of  his  pastorate 
at  W.  Medway. 

Five  members  have  been  settled  over  fifty  yrs.  in  one  parish, 
Seven  have  been  settled  over  forty  years,  and  Nine  over  thirty 
years. 


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COMPARATIVE     TABLES.  343 


GRADUATES. 

Harv.  Univ 11      Penn.  Univ 2 

Yale  Coll 6      Union  Coll 3 

N.  J.  Coll 3     Not  grad 13 

Brown  Univ 32 

Dart.  Coll 17  100 

Wms.  Coll 2 

Amh.  Coll..                    ,.11  Members..                      .   21 


AVERAGES. 

Of  the  121  Licentiates,  21  became  members  of  the  Association, 
5  never  entered  the   ministry,  and  8  have  not  been  ordained. 
They  are  omitted  in  the  preceding  list.     Of  the  remaining  8  7,  6 
have  been  ordained,  but  not  settled  as  pastors  ;  45  are  dead,  and 
42  are  still  living.     Of  the  latter,  10   have   entered  other  avoca 
tions,  or  retired  from  active  labors,  and  1 9  are  now  pastors ;    of 
whom,  1 2  are  still  in  their  first  pastorate. 
Of  the  deceased  members  :  — 
The  average  first  pastorate  of  44  is  17  yrs.  9  m. 
"          "     pastoral  life  of  43,  19  yrs.  4  m. 

"     ministerial  life  of  40,  26  yrs.  1  m. 
"          "     natural  life  of  42,  58  yrs.  4  m. 
Of  the  survivors  :  — 
The  average  first  pastorate  of  36  is  12  yrs.  9  m. 

"     pastoral  life  of  36,  16  yrs.  4  m. 
"          "     ministerial  life  of  40,  21  yrs. 

"     pastorate  of  11,  still  undismissed,  16  yrs.  9  m. 
Rev.  Asaph  Rice  of  Westminster,  was  the  longest  settled   in 
one  place  ;  viz.  50  yrs.  5  m.    Rev.  Eli  Smith  of  Hollis,  N.  Hamp 
shire,  reached  the  most  advanced  age  ;  viz.  8  7  yrs.  8  m. 

Rev.  Kiah  Bayley  of  Hardwick,  Vt,  is  the  oldest  of  living  Li 
centiates,  being  nearly  83.  Rev.  Levi  Nelson  of  Lisbon,  Ct., 
has  been  the  longest  settled  over  one  charge  ;  viz.  48  years. 


344  COMPARATIVE    TABLES. 


III.  OF  MEMBERS  AND  LICENTIATES. 

GRADUATES. 

Harv.  Univ 20  Wms.  Coll 3 

Yale  Coll 23  Amh.  Coll 17 

N.  J.  Coll 5  Hamilton  Coll 1 

Brown  Univ 53  Union  Coll 4 

Bart.  Coll 26  Penn.  Univ 2 

Bowd.  Coll 3  Not  grad 20 

Total 177 

AVERAGES. 

Of  the  164  Members  and  Licentiates  contained  in  the  preced 
ing  tables,  80  are  dead,  and  84  are  living;  of  whom,  68  still  ex 
ercise  the  functions  of  the  ministry. 
Of  the  deceased  :  — 
The  average  first  pastorate  of  79,  is  22  yrs.  5  m. 

"          "     pastoral  life  of  78,  25  yrs.  1  m. 

"          "     ministerial  life  of  75,  31  yrs.  10  m. 

"          "     natural  life  of  77,  62  yrs.  9  m. 
Of  the  living  :  — 
The  average  first  pastorate  of  75  is  11  yrs.  4  m. 

"          "     pastoral  life  of  75,  15  yrs.  9  m. 

"          "     ministerial  life  of  80,  21  yrs.  2  m. 

"          "     pastorate  of  16  still  undismissed,  17  yrs.  6  m. 


or  TH 
UNIVERSITY 

OF 
. 


GENERAL    INDEX, 


PAGE. 

Address,  Centennial 7 

Agencies  of  benev.  Societies 55 

Am.  and  For.  Sab.  Union,  vote  on 56 

"  Peace  Soc.,  vote  on 55 

"  Protestant   Soc.,  vote  on 59 

"   Sea.  Friends'  Soc.,  vote  on 55 

Appendix,  historical    41 

Approbation  of  Candidates 73 

"            Form  of 75 

Ardent  spirits,  abolished 54 

Articles  of  Faith,  record  of. 233 

Associations,  antiquity  of 28 

Bangor,  Theol.  Sem.,  origin  of 255 

Bellingham  church,  vote  on  funds 53 

Benev.  Societies,  resolves  on 55 

Biog.  Sketches  of  Licentiates 209 

"           "               Members 84 

Business  of  Association 44 

Candidates,  early  practice 73 

"          form  of  approbation 75 

"          list  of 76 

Catechising,  vote  on 54 

Centennial  Address 7 

"           Meeting 4 

Chaplain's  Commission,  copy 107 

Christian  Mag.,  vote  to  publish 61 

Comparative  Tables 334 

Congregationalism,  principles  stated 56 

Consoc.  of  churches,  draft  for 47 

Creed  recorded,  copy  of 233 

Doct.  Tract  Soc.,  origin  of 32 

Eccl.  hist,  of  N.  E.,  periods  of 11 

Education  Soc.,  first  in  Am 253 

Edwards,  influence  of  on  theology 21 

'  Evidences,'  vote  to  publish 60 

Extent  of  Mendon  Assoc 83 


346  GENERAL    INDEX. 

PAGE. 

First  meeting  of  the   Assoc 41 

First  missionaries  of  M.  M.  S 60 

Form  of  approbation  of  Cand 75 

Gen.  Assoc.  of  Mass 52 

Harmony  Assoc.,  origin  of. 82 

History  of  this  work 3 

Home  missions 59 

Hopkinsianism,  origin  of  the  term 30 

progress  and  influence 31 

Library  of  Association 45 

List  of  Candidates 76 

"     Members 79 

"     Questions 62 

"     Scribes 43 

"     Texts  for  Exegesis 72 

Mass.  Home  Miss.  Soc.,  origin  of. 59 

Meetings,  time  of  regular , 42 

Members,  list  of 79 

"          Sketches  of. 84 

Moderators 43 

Origin  of  Bangor    Sem 255 

"          Doct.  Tract  Soc 32 

"          Education  Soc.    ....    253 

"          Harmony  Association 82 

"         Mass.  Miss.  Soc 59 

"          Mendon  Assoc 27 

"          term,  Hopkinsian 30 

Periods  of  N.  £.  Eccl.  History 11 

Publications  by  the  Assoc 60 

Puritans,  object  in  emigrating 12 

Questions  for  discussion,  list  of 62 

Regulations  of  the  Association 45 

Resolves  on  miscel.  subjects 53 

Scribes,  list  of. 43 

Six  Nations,  missions  to 213 

Sketches  of  Licentiates 209 

"          Members 84 

Slavery,  resolves  on 58 

Territorial  extent  of  Assoc 83 

Texts  for  exegesis,  list  of. 72 

Theology,  Prest.  Edwards's  influence  on 21 

"          of  the  Puritans 12 

*  Unfinished  Report/  reply  to 56 


BIOGRAPHICAL   INDEX, 


Aikcn,  Solomon  . 
Alexander,  Caleb 
Arnies,  Josiah  L/. 
Austin,  Samuel  . 
Avcry,  David 
Bacon,  James  M. 
Bailey,  Algernon  S.  . 

"       Joseph  H. 

"       Kiah 
Barnes,  David  R. 

"       William  . 
Barney.  James  O. 
Barnum,  Caleb    . 
Bigelow,  Asahel  . 
Biglow,  Silas 
Blake,  Mortimer  . 
Brigham,  David  . 
Bullard,  Malachi 
Bullen,  Hem-y  L. 
Caryl,  Benjamin  . 
Chamberlain,  Charles  . 
Chapin,  Stephen  . 
Chaplin,  Ebenezer 
Cheney,  Joseph   . 
Clark, 'Lucius  W. 
Cleaveland,  John 
Cobb,  Alvan 
Colburn,  Samuel  W.    . 
Conant,  Cyrus  W. 

"         Gains     . 
Cooley,  Oramel  W.      . 
Corey,  John  E.    . 
Cram,  Jacob 
Crane.  John 
Cummings,  Preston     . 
Daggett,  Hcrmon 
Daniels,  Hiram  C. 
Davis,  Elnathan  . 
Dickinson.  Timothy     . 
Dorr,  Joseph 

"          "      Jr.  . 
Dowse,  Edmund  . 
Dudley,  Elias 
Dwight,  John 


PAGE. 

PAGE. 

.      227 

Edwards,  Thomas 

.      315 

.     128 

Emerson,  Ezckiel 

.     216 

.     329 

"         Joseph 

.     271 

.     156 

Emmons,  Nathaniel     . 

.     109 

.     124 

Fairbanks,  Drury    "     . 

.     267 

.     329 

Fay,  Gilbert 

.     311 

.     283 

Ferguson.  John   . 

.     176 

.     322 

Fish,  Elisha 

.       89 

.     253 

"      Jr.    . 

.     219 

.     195 

"      Holloway  . 

.     241 

.     203 

Fisher,  George     . 

.     303 

.     178 

Fisk,  Elisha 

.     151 

.     100 

u      Frederick  A. 

.     331 

.     190 

Fitch,  Charles      . 

.     181 

.     217 

"      Elijah 

.     117 

.     192 

"       John 

.     247 

.     300 

Forbush,  John 

.     312 

.     327 

Frost,  Amariah    . 

.       87 

.     202 

Goodenow,  Smith  B.   . 

.     199 

•     214 

Graham,  Sylvester 

.     309 

.     206 

Grosvenor,  Moses  G.    . 

.     193 

.     280 

Grout,  Jonathan  . 

.     322 

.     103 

Hall,  David, 

.       92 

.     277 

"     Nathaniel   . 

.     244 

.     308 

Harding,  John  "VV. 

.     331 

.     142 

"         Sewall  . 

.     196 

.     168 

Harlow,  William 

.     310 

.     166 

Harris,  Walter     . 

.     231 

.     309 

Haskell,  John      . 

.     207 

.     279 

Hcaton.  Isaac  E.  . 

.     314 

.     202 

Ilixon,  Asa 

.     207 

.     332 

Holbrook,  Josiah 

.     241 

.     223 

Willard      . 

.     296 

.     121 

Holman,  David    . 

,     162 

.     183 

;'         Nathan  . 

.     144 

.     239 

Howe,  Nathaniel  . 

.     135 

.     330 

Hunt,  Samuel 

.     207 

.     320 

Hutchinson,  Aaron 

.       96 

.     130 

Idc,  Jacob    . 

.     167 

.       84 

Jackson,  William 

.     250 

.     211 

James,  Horace     . 

.     197 

.     321 

Jenkins,  Abraham,  Jr. 

.     325 

.     236 

Johnson.  Sherman 

.     278 

.     320 

Jones,  Cornelius  . 

'.     210 

348 


BIOGRAPHICAL    INDEX. 


Judson,  Samuel  . 
Lincoln,  Allen 
Lobdell,  Henry    . 
Long,  David 
Longley,  Jonathan 
Lowe,  Isaac  P.     . 
Manning,  Abel 
Mills,  Edmund 
Moore,  Martin     . 
Morse,  John 
Nelson,  Levi 
Newhall,  George  II.     . 
Newton,  Ezra,  Jr. 
Noycs,  Varnum   . 
Ogdcn,  Nathaniel 
Packard,  Levi 
Paige,  Reed 
Paine,  Emerson  . 
Park,  Calvin 

"      Harrison  G. 
Parkhurst,  John  L. 
Partridge,  Moses 
Perkins,  Jonas     . 
Phelps,  Amos  A. 
Phipps,  William,  Jr.    . 
Peirce,  Willard    . 
Pond,  Enoch 

D.D.     . 

"      Preston,  Jr. 
Poor,  Daniel  J.    . 
Potter,   Nathaniel 
Pratt,  Edward      . 
Preston,  John  B. 
Putnam,  John  M. 
Rawson,  Nathaniel 
Raymond,  Stetson 
Reed,  Augustus  B. 

"       Andrew  II. 

"      Josiah 
Rice,  Asaph 
Richmond,  Thomas  T. 
Robinson,  John   . 
Rockwood,  Elisha 
Rowell,    Joseph  . 
Sanford,  David    . 


PAGE. 

PAGE. 

.      138 

Sanford,  David,  2d      . 

.     190 

.     328 

Shores,  Silas 

.     301 

.     332 

Simmons,  Charles 

.     199 

.     149 

Smaller,  Elain     . 

.     184 

.     299 

Smith,  'Eli    . 

.     248 

.     286 

"       John 

.     258 

.     297 

"       Preserved 

.     159 

.     133 

Southworth,  Tertius  D. 

.     191 

.     286 

Spaulding,  Josiah 

.     119 

.     242 

Spofford,  Richard  C.   . 

.     323 

.     276 

Stone,  Isaac 

.     104 

.     206 

"       Timothy  D.  P. 

.     195 

.     330 

Sullivan,  Lot  B.  . 

.     291 

.     313 

Sweet,  Henry  II.  F.     . 

.     306 

.     260 

Taft,  Moses 

.     209 

.     306 

Thacher,  Moses  . 

.     177 

.     235 

"        Tyler    . 

.     198 

.     288 

Thayer,  Alexander 

.     218 

.     172 

William  M.   . 

.     328 

.     189 

Thomas,  Daniel  . 

.     174 

.     293 

Thompson,  Otis  . 

.     148 

.     292 

Thurston,  David 

.       91 

.     290 

Eli      . 

.     316 

.     184 

Tisdalc,  James 

.     307 

.     321 

Torrey,  Charles  T.      . 

.     316 

.     179 

Tucker,  Joshua  T. 

.     204 

.     229 

Tyler,  Roval 

.     240 

.     289 

"      WHliam    . 

.     298 

.     205 

Waldo,  Nathan    . 

.     275 

.     192 

Walker,  Horace  D.      . 

.     324 

.     211 

"       Elnathan 

.     282 

.     326 

Warren,  Charles  J. 

.     182 

.     262 

"        Moses    . 

.     221 

.     301 
.     285 

William 
Webb.  Nathan     . 

.     159 

.       86 

.     291 

Whcaton,  Josephus 

.     169 

.     304 

White,  Calvin 

.     201 

.     196 

Whitmore,  Zolva 

.     300 

.     218 

Wight,  John  B.   . 

.     287 

.     213 

Wilder,  John 

.     139 

.     194      Williams,  Thomas 

.     170 

.     134      Wines,  Abijah     . 

.     255 

.     164      Wood,  Benjamin 

.     140 

.    205      Worcester,  Leonard     . 

.     268 

.     105 

LOAN  DEPT 


